We’ve all seen the articles that say we should drink eight glasses of water a day. Maybe you’ve seen articles that say this isn’t necessary.
Maybe you’ve seen articles that say you should drink even more!
What’s the real answer? How much water should you really drink every day, and why is it so important?
Let’s take a closer look.
First things first. We need to drink water, and probably more water than you currently are.
The amount of water that we should each be drinking depends on some individual factors. Factors like your level of activity, your specific health, and where you live.
Somebody who runs five miles every day will need to replace more water than somebody who is not as active.
Somebody who lives in a warm climate or who works outside in the heat will need to replace more fluid than somebody who lives in the cold.
We lose fluid when we sweat, when we breathe, and when we go to the bathroom. All of that needs to be replaced. Not having enough fluid in your body leads to dehydration, and that can leave you feeling tired and can impact your body’s ability to function normally.
According to the Institute of Medicine, the average man needs about 13 cups of water (or fluid) per day.
They say that women need about 9 cups of fluid per day.
It’s important to remember that all fluids count, but some fluids are better for you than others.
Some people say that you can get some of your fluid requirements from foods such as fruits and vegetables or beverages like tea or coffee. It goes without saying, water is the best fluid for you to drink.
When you drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, your body sees real benefits, including:
- If you drink enough water, you will perform better. Your motivation will be higher, you will be less tired, and exercise will feel easier.
- Drinking enough water benefits your brain. Dehydration can put you in a bad mood and make it harder for you to concentrate. It can also give you a headache.
- Drinking enough water will get rid of digestive problems like constipation or hard stools.
- People who drink plenty of water are less likely to get kidney stones.
- Drinking water clears toxins out of your body. Your skin will be clearer and your organs will run better. Some studies have shown that drinking more water helps to protect against breast cancer and colon cancer.
Water and Weight Loss
It’s also important to remember that drinking plenty of water is a great way to help you with a weight loss program.
Studies have shown that people who drink plenty of water actually burn more calories.
TweetOn top of that, when your belly is full of water you feel more full, and eat less. Just make sure you're not making this mistake.
So what’s the bottom line on how much water you should drink?
If you're healthy and active, the 8 glass a day rule will probably work for you. But if you're overweight and trying to lose weight, you may want to drink a lot more.
There is also such a thing as too much water so don't think that just drinking all the water you can possibly stand will be the best thing either.
Drinking a gallon of water a day for 30 days will help you to clear out toxins and suppress your appetite, so drink up!
Yours in health,
Danette
P.S. Please share this with your friends and I always love reading your comments below.
