How Much Water Should I Drink A Day?
We are constantly bombarded with advice to drink more water. But how much water do we actually need to drink every day?
We all know water is essential for survival. Water makes up about two-thirds of our body weight, transports nutrients and waste products around our bodies, regulates our temperature, helps to lubricate and absorb shock in our joints, and is an important component in our body’s chemical reactions.
Studies suggest that drinking fluids to avoid even mild dehydration has its benefits, such as better brain function and ability to do simple tasks. It can also help manage our weight, especially when it is done before a meal.
We constantly lose water when we perspire, breathe and pee, so it is crucial that we drink enough water to avoid getting dehydrated. The long-held belief is that we should drink eight glasses of water per day. But experts mostly feel that we don’t need any more fluid than what our bodies call for. And when the body needs more fluid, it will send out signals.
This is where thirst comes in. According to scientists, your body will tell you when it is thirsty. When the brain detects that the body is becoming dehydrated, it initiates the sensation of thirst which will induce us to drink. Drinking too much water, however, can be dangerous when it causes the sodium level in our blood to become too low—a condition known as hyponatremia.
So how do we know how much water to drink? Most experts agree that the amount of water we require depends on our age, gender, body size, environment and level of physical activity. Some of us may prefer to stick to the guideline of six to eight glasses of water a day, including low-calorie options like low-fat milk, coffee or tea. Others may prefer to listen to their body and drink when they feel thirsty. One important thing to note is that once we are over 60 years old, our thirst mechanisms become less sensitive.
Perhaps a useful habit to cultivate is to carry a bottle of water with us wherever we go, so that we can drink anytime we feel thirsty. And if we do end up drinking a little more than we need, we will burn more calories by running to the toilet more often!
