We all know that water is important for your health. After all, water makes up the majority of your body weight.
But the big question is how much water should you drink per day?
There is no one definite answer that’s true in each and every case for every single person.
The common direction is that every adult should drink 8 glasses of water a day. Each glass should contain 8 ounces.
However, this direction is much too general as it doesn’t take into account your weight, gender, and activity levels. Naturally, the amount of water a 120 pound woman needs to drink every day is different from that of a 200 pound man. So, a different set of guidelines may be in order. Let’s go over some of the suggestions and methods that are available.
The Replenishment concept
As we lose water and fluids every day, one set of guidelines states that you simply need to replace what you lost to remain healthy and functioning. The average adult urinates about 1.5 liters of fluid each day. In addition, our body also loses additional water through sweating and regular function.
This is actually one of the bases of the 8 glasses of water a day direction since this amount seems just about right to replenish your body. This takes into account the water you get from food which can add up to quite a bit.
Half the weight guideline
Another option is to drink according to your body weight. Some say that you need to take your body weight in pounds, divide it by two, and get the number of ounces of water you need to drink.
For instance, if you weigh 144 pounds, you need 72 ounces of water. Each glass contains 8 ounces, so you will need 9 glasses of water each day.
Things that may influence how much water you need
Exercise: If you workout on any given day, you will likely lose more water and fluid so you will need to drink a bit more than usual.
Hot weather: If the weather is hot and humid, you’re going to sweat a lot more and may need to get a few more glasses of water into your body.
Pregnancy: When you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you will need more water.
Watch your urine: The color of your urine is a great way to know how hydrated you really are. If your urine is dark than you need to drink more water. If it’s light in color or close to translucent, than you’re OK.
Why drinking water is important
Water makes up the most of your body, especially your brain. Without water, your body will not function. Water also helps with the following:
- Keep your body and internal organs cool.
- Helps you regulate bowel movements.
- Recover faster and better from your workouts to improve your fitness.
- Helps you lose weight by keeping your appetite in check.
- It helps your digestive process to runs smoothly.
Note: I once read a tip by Rob Poulos of the Fat Burning Furnace Ultimate Fitness System on how drinking cool water can actually help you to burn more calories because the body needs to heat up the water.
Any good diet plan requires that you drink a sufficient amount of water.
How to make sure you’re drinking enough water
Often people simply don’t drink enough even though it’s not their fault. It just slips their mind.
Here are some tips to make sure you’re drinking enough each day:
- Take a bottle of water with you to work.
- Start the day with two tall glass of water.
- Drink a glass before each meal.
- Drink a glass with each snack.
- Drink water before, during, and after each workout.
In Conclusion
Whether or not you’re trying to lose weight, drinking water is crucial for a healthy life. Make sure to not wait until you actually feel thirsty to drink as this means that you’re dehydrated. Make water a part of your daily routine and you’ll enjoy a healthier life.
So, as you can see, I don’t have a definite answer to how much water you should drink each day. I think the 8 glasses a day rule is a good one. However, drink more on hot days or when you workout.