You may have heard from people, doctors, read from articles that you should drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Doctors from Frontline ER Clinic recommend that men should take at least one hundred and four ounces of water a day which translated to thirteen cups. Women, on the other hand, should take at least seventy-two ounces which translates to nine cups. However, the answer as to how much water one should consider isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
While eight glasses are the water intake recommendation from most people, it is not supported by reliable facts. The suggestion is a proper start to view how your body will adapt to the behavior. Your body consists of sixty percent water mass. Everybody’s system requires water to function. Although you can survive for weeks without food it is impossible to survive without water intake; dehydration will kill you. Dehydration refers to the loss of water from one’s body cells compared to its consumption. Moreover, if water is lost without replacement, electrolytes vital to cell function and energy such as potassium and sodium are also lost bringing an imbalance. Your right water intake will depend on factors such as your sex, age, health, activity levels and conditions such as pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The current water intake recommendation for adults is around 3.7 litres for men and 2.7 litres for women. The figures should be your overall fluid intake every day; this includes anything you eat or drink that contains water for example fruits, soups, vegetables.
Children have little body masses translating to smaller water masses in their bodies. Their metabolic processes are slightly lower despite having higher growth rates hence require relatively fewer water intakes. For children, the recommendations are given with age unlike that of adults that are provided in gender. Kids between the ages four and eight years should take 40 ounces per day translating to about five cups. This amount slightly increases to 60 ounces or seven cups by the time the child is ten years old. For ages between fourteen and eighteen, the recommended water intake should be at 70 to 80 ounces or 9 to 11 cups.
Women in the reproductive age bracket, also have their different recommendation. The class involves both pregnant and breastfeeding women. Expectant women should aim to take 80 ounces of water per day. It ensures that both the mother and the fetus are well hydrated. The breastfeeding mother may require up to 104 ounces ensuring that even after breastfeeding, she is still hydrated herself.
However, if the body requires water, there is no limitation to water intake.It may have been fueled by hot climates, fevers, regular exercises. Ill conditions such as diarrhoea and vomiting cause the body to lose more fluids than usual. Therefore it is recommended that the victim should take more water to replace the lost water. Your doctor should suggest adding drinks containing electrolytes to keep your body electrolyte balance more stable.
If you are used to exercising vigorously and regularly, you need an additional two to three cups of water each day. You may need to take more water if you work out for more extended hours. You continuously lose water and electrolytes during the day via sweat, breath, urine, and bowel movements; even the mild dehydration will exhaust you and affect your normal functioning of the body.
Taking lots of plain water seems impossible and annoying to some people. In such cases take advantage of consuming flavoured fluids such as tea, milk, coffee and juicy fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelons, oranges, strawberries. In a bid to keep your body hydrated, you also get to feed it on valuable nutrients essential for your health, your child’s growth and health. However, the vast majority of your daily fluid intake should come from neutral water. So how do you calculate your daily intake? An individual with a 2200 calorie diet should drink about 50 water ounces a day which translates to about six cups. Another 28 ounces which are 3.5 cups could come in the form of tea, coffee, and other fluids.
Scientists do not include alcoholic drinks in the fluid ounces count in daily amounts required by the body. They argue that in having the viscosity flow of fluid doesn’t necessarily make it beneficial to the body. Also, it brings more harm to your body especially to women who stand a higher chance of developing breast cancer. With milk, it is a complex fluid since it comes along with saturated fat. Low-fat milk is also high in calories; therefore, a cup or two a day would be excellent. However, it is highly recommended that one should take plain water as a tremendous part of the fluid intake. You might be able to meet your water intake goals by drinking water whenever thirsty and together with your meals.
