How Much Water Do You Really Need Everyday

Water makes up approximately 60 percent of the body. Drinking water aids a number of bodily functions including digestion, circulation, and body temperature maintenance. Because of this, it’s important to keep our bodies properly hydrated.

How Much Water Do You Really Need Everyday

Many health professionals recommend eight glasses of water totaling 64 ounces per day. There is, however, a bit of confusion associated with that average. For instance, if the average daily water intake is 64 ounces, does that include toddlers? Or the elderly? Does all water intake have to be consumed as plain water?

The truth is, the recommended daily water consumption depends on specific categories. The average man and woman aren’t required to drink the same amount of water. Healthcare providers determine water consumption requirements based on age, medication, sex, physical activity, and pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Age-Related Suggested Water Intake

In addition to bodily function, our bodily fluids also decrease via sweating and urination. Because of this, dehydration has a better chance of occurring. During dehydration, your body loses enough water to impair overall function. Dehydration negatively impacts everyone, however, it’s more severe for children and older adults.

Although dehydration occurs after losing only one to three percent of bodily fluids, the results can be life-threatening in severe cases. Therefore, it’s important to understand how much water each age group needs every day.

If you have an infant that’s exclusively breastfeeding, they don’t require additional water. Breast milk contains nearly 90% water. Formula-fed babies are recommended to only drink minimal amounts over water in extreme heat or to break a fever.

Children over one year are recommended to drink three to four cups of fluids daily. This is especially important for active children in warmer climates. Children aged four to thirteen require between five and eight cups of fluids everyday. Boys fourteen and older need between eleven and thirteen cups while girls of this age group only require eight or nine.

Adults males between ages nineteen and thirty are advised to drink 130 fluid ounces, or 3.7 liters of fluids. Adult women of the same age group are recommended to drink around 95 fluid ounces, of 2.7 liters of fluids daily. Active adult males, however, can drink up to 6 liters of water per day. Active females drink an average of a liter less water based on their body mass.

Pregnant women should drink an additional 10 fluid ounces everyday to properly nourish their developing baby. Breastfeeding mothers need up to an additional thirty-seven fluid ounces based on the amount of feedings.

The amount of water elderly people should consume varies. Elderly people can be over hydrated or dehydrated based on a number of factors. For instance, if they take diuretic medications, they lose more water daily. It’s wise to speak with a healthcare provider about individual water intake requirements to avoid over and dehydration.

Water Intake Methods

Keep in mind, there are multiple ways to increase water intake outside of drinking. Eating fruits and vegetables contribute to your daily water intake based on their high water content. When possible, avoid drinks like coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages. While they do contain water, the caffeine content of these beverages causes you to lose water through frequent urination. The same applies with drinking alcohol.

An easy way to meet your daily intake goals is drinking infused water. Infused water is water with fruit, vegetables, and even spices that soak for at least thirty minutes. Not only does infusing water, add flavor, it adds vitamins and nutrients to the hydration process.

Many people are unaware that the body actually produces water. Studies show an estimated ten percent of your body’s daily water comes from metabolic water. Metabolic water is a byproduct of routine cell function. This percentage increases with physical activity. Be sure not to overexert yourself physically. Physical activity without proper hydration raises the risk of dehydration and other ailments.

Water is part of the human body’s foundation. It’s important to understand that water quality matters. To ensure quality drinking water, it’s wise to invest in a good quality water filter from a reliable source such as this website. These quality filters guarantee over a decade of clean water. In addition to drinking quality water, eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with fruits and vegetables with a high water content.

If you drink your recommended daily dose and still experience dehydration or excessive thirst, speak to your healthcare provider for alternative solutions.