How Much Water Should You Be Drinking Daily?

How much water should you be drinking daily? We all know that water is essential for good health. Humans are approximately 70% water after all. That would suggest that this is a relatively easy question to answer, don’t you agree?

The truth is, it’s not as simple as you first might imagine. Although there are good averages to aim for that will keep you hydrated in most scenarios, the individual needs we all have for water will be different.

Factors like where you live, how much exercise you participate in and what your overall health is like all have an impact on how much water is right for you each day.

Understanding the Various Health Benefits of Drinking Water

As noted at the outset, water is the main chemical component of the human body and our body weight is 60% water. We know we need water to survive. What does it do for us?

For any part of our bodies to work properly, whether it’s the organs, tissues or cells, they need water.

Water helps:

• By protecting sensitive tissues
• By cushioning and lubricating joints
• Maintaining a steady body temperature
• With removal of waste products through bowel movements, perspiration and urination

When you are not getting enough water, you can eventually suffer from dehydration, which can cause your body to stop functioning properly. Even mild cases of this condition can make you feel fatigued and sap you of energy.

How Much Do You Need?

Water is lost through various normal processes all our bodies perform, such as breathing, bowel movements, urination and perspiration. Therefore, to make sure we always have enough water in our bodies, we need to replenish the lost water.

The best way to refill your water supply is by taking in drinks and food with a high water content. According to the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, the optimum amount of fluids you should consume is:

• For a woman, 2.7-liters a day
• For a man, 3.7-liters a day

It’s important to note that these amounts cover not just drinking water directly, but fluids consumed from water, other drinks and food. Roughly 20% of your fluid intake will normally be from food, with drinks covering the rest.

Are Eight Glasses of Water a Day Healthy?

Everyone has heard the ‘8-8 rule’ that suggests you need to drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water every day. However, as many people disagree with this as they do agree. As a rule of thumb, it is a reasonable goal and a good way to stay healthy. However, it is important to be aware of factors that can affect the amount of water you need to intake daily.

If you live in a hot and humid part of the world, exercise a lot, have health issues or are pregnant, then you will probably need a lot more than just eight glasses a day.

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Although it sounded like a very easy question, we’ve hopefully shown why there is a little more involved in working out how much water you need to drink than just following an arbitrary number. You need to think about your own personal circumstances, lifestyle and health.