Have you ever wondered how much water you have to drink daily? Hydration needs are far from one-size-fits-all. The amount of water you need to drink daily is more complicated than you may think. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine suggest that women should get a total of about 2.7 litres and men about 3.7 litres daily. This intake does not only include water intake, other beverages and nutrient-rich foods count as well.
Good hydration can improve your mood, sleep and overall health. Find out how much water you need each day by using this hydration calculator.
Influencing factors
There are various factors that can increase or decrease the amount of water your body needs to function at its best. As such, factors like birth sex, body weight, life stage, diet quality and activity level are important to consider.
Men, unlike women, generally require more fluids to support their bodies on a daily basis. As body weight increases, fluid needs also increase according to a University of Missouri System study.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need more fluids so a greater water intake is necessary. The food you eat also affects your hydration and the amount of fluid you need to drink. When you eat enough fruits and vegetables daily, you do not need to drink as much water since they are already full of fluid. On days when you eat enough moisture-rich food, you do not need to drink as much, on other days you can compensate with a few extra glasses of water. During physical activities, fluid loss and fluid intake depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise.
Why you should stay hydrated
Keep in mind to not flood your system all at once, drinking too much water at once can increase the risk of hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is a condition that occurs when the electrolytes in the body are depleted, at which point more water is ingested than excreted through the kidneys and water accumulates in the body. As the Mayo Clinic states, hyponatremia may be life-threatening. It is therefore important to drink water gradually throughout the day.
Although needs vary from person to person, meeting personal hydration needs will be of tremendous benefit. Research from the Harvard School of Public Health shows that hydration ensures proper functioning of the body, it lubricates the joints and it regulates body temperature.
Source: Everyday health
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