How Much Water Should I Drink A Day?
When you’re dehydrated, you feel like you have cotton mouth and you might even get a headache. Drinking too much water can be dangerous, so it’s important to drink only the right amount of water each day to remain hydrated and avoid the headaches and dehydration that are associated with drinking too little or too much water. When should you drink more water? How are you able to tell if you’re drinking enough? The answer is different for everyone, but here are some general guidelines on how much water should I drink a day.
Why Water Is Crucial
Drinking plenty of water is crucial to staying healthy, not just for your heart and muscles but also for your brain. Your body is made up of approximately 60% water; it’s involved in every physiological process. Water helps to remove waste from cells, control body temperature, carry nutrients to cells, lubricate joints and prevent kidney stones. If you want a healthy body, you need to drink plenty of H2O! How much water should I drink a day? If you are under 18 years old: 1/3 cup (8 ounces) daily. If you are between 18 and 64 years old: 1 cup (8 ounces) daily. If you are over 65 years old: 1 cup (8 ounces) daily.
Water Consumption by Age
How much water should you drink, and when should you be drinking it? What are healthy habits to follow as far as drinking water is concerned? Consider your age, diet, climate and more before you determine how much H2O to consume. The general rule of thumb is eight 8-ounce glasses daily. According to WebMD, however, there are exceptions: For adults older than 51 years old or those who are trying to lose weight—both women and men—the daily target for fluid intake increases from about 9 cups a day to almost 12 cups. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re getting enough sodium in your diet. Your body requires sodium for health reasons such as nerve functioning and blood pressure regulation. And if you exercise on a regular basis, chances are good that you need even more fluids. When possible, eat foods with high water content (e.g., fruits). At other times, grab plenty of water along with your meals and snacks throughout the day. Avoid sweetened beverages like juices because they have little to no added nutritional value—and can actually add extra calories if consumed in excess amounts.
Water Consumption Myths
So what quantity water do you have to drink a day? No one really knows for sure, but there is no question that proper hydration is vital to your health. In fact, there are many myths surrounding water consumption. Are you drinking enough H2O each day? Here are four of those myths and why they’re untrue – Myth: Drinking more water will help me lose weight. It’s true that drinking plenty of fluids can keep you from getting hungry, leading to weight loss over time. But these effects only work if you drink plain water—juice and other calorie-containing beverages will actually cause you to gain weight if they take up room in your stomach or otherwise distract from actual meals. – Myth: If my body isn’t thirsty, it means I’m already well-hydrated.
When Can You Drink Other Fluids
Drinking water is great and necessary, but it’s not all you need to do. You should also drink enough other fluids so that your urine is colorless or light yellow in color. That means you’re drinking enough water and any other beverages or foods that contain water. The ideal time to drink is when you first feel thirsty since dehydration can slow down your metabolism in addition to increasing feelings of hunger, which can lead to overeating. One rule of thumb says a good way to tell if you are drinking enough water is to check how often you go pee: You should be going at least every 3-4 hours (including nighttime), especially if you’re very active.
Can Other Fluids Substitute For Water
Because of how much water is involved in every part of your body’s day-to-day activities, it’s easy to see why some people think drinking water is an absolute must. But are there any other fluids that can substitute for water? In many cases, yes—provided you make smart choices about what types of liquids you consume on a daily basis. Drinking excessive amounts of sugary soda or fruit juice is not going to help you maintain proper hydration levels; however, switching out sodas and juices for healthier options could easily help you boost your H2O intake—and more. So how much fluid should we be drinking on a daily basis? It all depends on a variety of factors including our age, activity level and climate exposure.
Drinking from Plastic Bottles vs. Glass Bottles
Let’s face it, most of us don’t like to carry a water bottle around with us. They’re bulky and awkward, so we end up having one or two throughout our house. Using a plastic water bottle will make you more aware of how much water you drink, meaning that you’ll be drinking more (and stay hydrated). Plastic bottles are also pretty cheap and easy to find—you can get them at almost any grocery store in your area.
The Best Time To Drink Water
Dr. Christopher Ochner, an adjunct professor of nutrition at NYU and a weight management specialist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, told us that to properly hydrate, you should reach for water before anything else. Your body relies on water for a lot of important tasks, he says. It’s more effective than other beverages for maintaining healthy kidney function, minimizing inflammation and keeping you feeling energized. Aim to drink eight eight-ounce glasses (64 ounces) of water per day—about half your body weight in ounces. And while you’re aiming to drink more H2O throughout the day, Dr. Ochner doesn’t recommend drinking as much as possible. Stick with moderate consumption, he recommends: This could translate into two to three liters of fluid or 30-40 ounces every few hours, which is roughly what you would get from drinking several cups of coffee or tea. If you want something besides plain old tap water, consider infusing it with fresh fruit (or cucumbers!) or buying a flavored sparkling beverage like La Croix.