Water : How much should you drink every day?

MzProdigy91

How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.

Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Functions of water in the body Functions of water in the body

Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
How much water do you need?

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

So how much water does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? In general, doctors recommend 8 or 9 cups. Here are the most common ways of calculating that amount:

Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose close to an additional liter (about 4 cups) of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your total fluid intake, so if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet, you will typically replace your lost fluids.
Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as all fluids count toward the daily total. Although the approach really isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this easy-to-remember rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

Even apart from the above approaches, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate. If you're concerned about your fluid intake, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that's best for you.

OneFitMom_

I drink between 16-20 glasses of water a day.

wutamunkee

I like to calculate needed water as:

weight in pounds/2= number of ounces to drink

Rae1105

I like to calculate needed water as:

weight in pounds/2= number of ounces to drink

I agree

sneekspeete

OMG! I drink a gallon a day. Some days I feel like I'm gonna drown! :laugh:

coliema

I drink betwen 5 and 14 glasses of water a day, I don't have specific amount I drink. It depends on how I feel, I hate having to pee every 25 minutes! :laugh:

twinmama1987

I drink 4-6L/day. Not usually below 4.

robinso5

Drink when you are thirsty, dont drink when you are not. there are no studies that say you NEED to drink any amount of water a day to stay alive or lose weight! There are all kinds of myths but if you ask your Doctor he/she will tell you to drink when you are thirsty!

sneekspeete

I try n drink a gallon a ady and most days do.Everywhere I go I carry a bottle with me.I think sometimes I'm gonna drown! :laugh:

Tebbspcad

I drink a minimum of 1.5 litres a day, more if i have a headache, its hot or exercising etc...

capriciousmoon

I drink water when I feel like it, which is usually about 2L+ a day. I think people often fail to realize that the food they eat also contains water so they don't really -need- to drink a certain amount to stay hydrated.

Please feel free to have me committed if I ever start measuring my urine. :flowerforyou:

ArtemisMoon

Yes, most water intake recommendations don't even begin to count for differences in weight. Obviously if there is more of you, there is more of you to keep hydrated. So generic water recommendations like that can be very misleading and damaging.

I have suffered from chronic dehydration a good part of my life and am just now attempting to correct it. It is rough drinking that much water (the divide body weight by 2 seems to be what is working for me) but I am feeling better! Gonna take a while to really recover from that many years of only meeting requirements for a normal weight individual. My thirst mechanisms had actually shut down and only recently with higher water intake reactivated. Now I actually FEEL the need for more water!

Cambrendle

I like to calculate needed water as:

weight in pounds/2= number of ounces to drink

Ditto - I had a trainer once tell me if I'm trying to lose weight to drink 1 oz per lb I weigh.