Over the years, we have been told to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Have you ever wondered if this is a truth or a myth? No rules can apply to all individuals, same for water intake. Everyone has a different weight, health situation, activity level, diet plan and climates! Before looking into some basic guidelines on how much water we should drink, you should know why we need water so much.
Why do our bodies need sufficient water?
Water helps to keep you healthy in a number of ways. When you drink enough, it helps you remove waste from your body through your urine, stool, and sweat; prevents your body from overheating; protects delicate tissues in your body and keeps your joints cushioned and lubricated.
Can we calculate how much water we need to drink?
You can have a rough idea on how much water you should drink according to your weight and activity level. The amount of water a person should drink varies on their weight, multiply your weight by 2/3 to determine how much water to drink daily. However you will need to adjust that number based on your work out plan since you would sweat. It is recommended to add 12 ounces of water to your daily total for every 30 minutes that you work out.
What's more would be considering some daily factors as well. For example, drink more on hot days to prevent dehydration; consume before meals to reduce appetite for weight loss or use water intake to flush out sodium during diet. So before setting a water drinking goal for yourselves, make sure you understand what your body needs and what you want to achieve.
How do I know if I am drinking enough water?
There are two simple signs that your body could tell. Ask yourself the two questions: Did I drink enough water that I rarely feel thirsty? Was my pee either clear or light yellow? If your answers to both questions are both “yes”, then you probably have nothing to worry about not getting enough water that you need.
Is it possible that I drink too much water?
It is actually rare that a person would drink too much water. Yet nothing is impossible. If you drink too much water that your kidneys can’t get rid of the excess, the minerals in your blood could be diluted, or watered down. As a result, sodium levels in the blood fall. Your body’s water levels rise and your cells swell. It can lead to serious, or even life-threatening problems.