The human body is made up of 60% water. Your brain, heart, and muscles are all dependent on water to function properly. It’s no wonder that we need it every day! The recommended amount of water intake per day varies depending on your body and what your lifestyle consists of.
If you’re a desk worker, your daily goal might look different than if you’re consistently active. This blog post discusses how much water we need each day and how we can ensure that we’re drinking enough water each day.
How Much Water Do You Need Everyday?
During the day, you’ll lose water from sweating, breathing, and using the bathroom. For your body to be able to replenish its water supply and function the right way, you’ll need to consume foods and beverages that contain water. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the adequate daily fluid intake is 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women and 15.5 cups of fluids a day for men. These fluids might contain water, other beverages, and food.
The amount of water you’ll need to drink may fluctuate from the daily recommended amount depending on a variety of factors, including:
- Location: The location where you live can play a significant role in how much water you need to drink each day. For example, if you live at a high altitude or live-in humid weather, you’ll likely need to drink extra water throughout the day.
- Exercise: The amount of exercise you do each day affects how much water you need to drink. The more active that you are, the more fluid your body will lose through sweating and breathing. If you aren’t drinking enough fluids after exercising, your performance could suffer.
- Your State Of Health: If you have diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever, you’ll need to drink more fluids than usual. You can get dehydrated very quickly with these symptoms, so it’s essential that you take in enough water each day.
Tips To Remember To Drink Water
Just because you know how much you need to drink every day doesn’t mean that you’re going to remember to drink it. There are a few tips you can incorporate into your daily routine that will help ensure that you’re getting enough water each day:
- Start The Day Right: Whether you prefer warm water with lemon or like cold, icy water, drink water when you wake up in the morning before any caffeinated drinks or breakfast.
- Carry Around A Reusable Bottle: Reusable water bottles are so much better for the environment, and they can help you drink more. Keep a reusable bottle with you throughout your day to refill as needed at the water fountain or sink.
- Track Your Fluid Intake: There’s an app for that! Track how many cups of fluids you’re drinking each day by using a mobile phone app like Daily Water that tracks your water intake.
- Set An Alarm On Your Phone: Set at least one alarm on your phone each day to remind you to take a drink.
- Invest In A Water Filter: An easy way to ensure you’re drinking the cleanest, most hydrating water is by investing in a water filter. This will ensure you only have clean water in your home, so you stay hydrated.