Recommended Daily Water Intake
Knowing the recommended daily water intake is a very important piece of knowledge every single person who have, at all ages. Water is something the human body needs to survive; and when we are not consuming the necessary amounts of water every day, we are instantly diminishing our overall health.
There are some things that will differ the amount of water an individual should drink everyday including:
- Weight
- Health
- Level of Active Lifestyle
- Geographic Location
The human body weight is 60% water. When an individual is not consuming the necessary amounts of water; their body begins storing what many would call “water weight” to avoid dehydration and many other water deficient health ailments. Water is used to not only hydrate our bodies but it also flushes toxic bacteria from our bodies and helps with the circulation of nutrients throughout of cells. Every aspect of our overall health is controlled by the amount of water we drink every single day.
Dehydration is the most commonly known water deficient ailment. It is experienced by everyone differently and can affect our overall health in many ways. Dehydration can cause a lot of complications especially minimized energy and sleepiness. Most would supplement exhaustion with a caffeinated beverage when in reality a glass of water would have more of an effect than caffeine.
Increased Water Dependencies
There are a lot of aspects of life that will require individuals to increase their daily water intake to supplement their lifestyles. This is why it is difficult to give an exact required daily water intake as every individuals needs vary drastically. There is however common times in peoples lives where they will need to increase their daily water intake.
- Exercise
- Environment
- Illnesses or Health Conditions
- Pregnancy or Breast-Feeding
Average Recommended Water Intake
The human body is expelling water every second of the day. We lose water through breathing, sweating, urinating and bowel movements. The body requires constant replenishing of our water supplies; which is done by drinking liquids or consuming foods with higher water levels.
For a healthy adult that lives within a temperate climate, it is recommended they consume approximately 3 litres of water per day. This equals approximately 13 cups of water. This can be done by drinking liquids and also consuming foods high in waters. The amount for men and women is different and it is recommended to talk with your doctor of physician to determine a qualified amount of water that your body needs daily for a healthier lifestyle.
What about the advice to drink eight glasses a day?
Everyone has heard the advice, “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s about 1.9 liters, which isn’t that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the “8 by 8” rule isn’t supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it’s easy to remember.
Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: “Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day,” because all fluids count toward the daily total.
Beyond the tap: Other sources of water
Although it’s a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don’t need to rely only on what you drink to meet your fluid needs. What you eat can also provide a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 % of total water intake. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 % or more water by weight.
In addition, beverages such as milk and juice are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is still your best bet because it’s calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.