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How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day

How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day

Water is an essential sustaining matter that helps the body function. It makes up a majority of the body’s fluid and helps organs conduct their proper function. Although water is mandatory for our body, we constantly lose water throughout the day in different processes such as breathing, sweating, urinating, and bowel movement. To keep the body in proper condition, you should always replenish its water supply by drinking enough water. This begs the question; how much water is enough water?

Before we dig deep into the question, it should be noted that many different studies yield different results when it comes to the amount of water we should drink. Generally speaking, individual water consumption varies depending on many different factors such as your sex, age, environment, body weight, and daily activities.

 

1. Sex:

According to the U.S. National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the appropriate liquid intake depends on sex. In a general sense, it is recommended for women to drink about 11.5 cups per day which equates to 2.7 liters of water, while men need around 15.5 cups or 3.7 liters of fluids each day.

 

2. Age

Just as sex impact the amount of water needed, age is also one of the main considering factors when talking about fluid intake. To start, infants below the age of 6 months are not recommended to be fed plain water since they get their water needs from breastmilk or milk. Meanwhile, children over the age of 12 months are recommended to drink water as part of their daily routine. Parents should foster a water drinking habit for this age group by always having bottles of water nearby or have them carry a bottle of water when leaving for school.

For adult ages between 19-30 years old, the water intake varies depending on sex as mentioned above. However, for older adults, multiple sources recommend adopting a habit of drinking water regularly as they are more prone to dehydration due to their declining physical condition.

 

3. Environment

The humidity level and the temperature around play an important role in determining how much water you should consume. Although you should drink more water in the hot season due to excessive sweating, you should also watch your water intake during the cold season. This is due to the fact that cold weather significantly diminishes the body’s ability to respond to thirst.

 

4. Body Weight

As much as the other factors affect your body’s need for hydration, your body mass also changes the amount of water you should be drinking. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended to consume between half an ounce to an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day.

 

5. Daily Activities:

Even if other factors should be strongly considered when discussing the amount of fluid that you should consume, the activities you perform might just be one of the most important factors. This is because performing activities that require a lot of energy warms the body up in a process called metabolism. To cool the body back down, sweat which is made up almost entirely of water is excreted. A person engaging in physical activities throughout the day will always need more water than those doing tasks that require minimal energy.

 

As seen through the factors listed above, it is evident that the right amount of water you should consume depends on various factors, from biological factors to external factors. However, no matter how important water is for your body, you should not overconsume it either, since it could lead to overhydration. When wondering how many glasses of water you should drink, always remember, balance is key!