How Much Water Must You Drink?

We’ve heard throughout our lives about staying hydrated, drinking more and more water, and drinking it more often. But why would our parents or our family doctor give so much emphasis to a glass of water? Well, there are a lot of reasons why everyone keeps saying that to you. Drinking water and staying hydrated come with numerous benefits, and dehydration, on the other hand, comes with some serious issues that you won’t like tackling. But how much water you need to drink in a day? 

Your body constantly loses water throughout the day as it is required for the proper functioning of the body. You can realize the importance of drinking water just by the fact that even breathing causes the loss of water in our body. Felt the need to drink a glass of water yet? Go grab one! Other functions that cause the loss of water in our body include perspiration, bowel movements, and urine. 

Some experts suggest drinking 8 ounces of water daily, which is equivalent to 2 liters. This is the most basic rule for drinking water that we have learned throughout our lives. But things are not as simple as that! Some experts share a common belief that one must sip on water constantly throughout the day, even if you are not feeling thirsty. 

The water level is required to be replenished with the consumption of beverages, foods, and fluids. Your body can absorb water from food sources, juices, drinks, and of course, the water you drink. So, how much fluid is required by your body? Well, it depends on several factors. 

These factors can include the region you are living in, the temperature of your region, the activities you do throughout the day, the food choices you have, and the individual water requirements of a body. Let’s focus on some of the crucial factors that might impact your daily water requirements. 

Factors Influencing How Much Water You Need 

The 8 ounces of water rule is a general rule for everyone to follow, but there are chances that you might need more water than others. Here are some factors you need to ponder upon to drink the amount of water that is right for you!

The Region You Live In

If you are living in regions that are comparatively hot, more humid, or dry, this goes without saying that you will be required to consume more water. Cities like Goa, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Vishakhapatnam, are some of the most humid regions. In addition to this, it should be noted that you will need more water than others if you live in the mountains or at a location that is situated at a high altitude. 

Your Lifestyle 

How active you are in your daily life will also decide how much water you need on a daily basis. If you have a slightly active lifestyle or daily routine that requires you to walk or stand a lot during the day, you will be needing more water than someone who has a seating job. Apart from that, if you work out regularly or do any activity that causes sweating, you will need an extra glass of water for the proper functioning of your body and replenish the water levels. 

Temperature and Environment

When it’s hot outside, your body will sweat more and will lose more water, causing your body to ask for more water. People living in regions that are relatively cooler will have fewer water consumption requirements due to perspiration. The environment you spend you spend your time in will also have a major role in deciding how much water would you need. The more time you spend outside in the sun, the more water will be required to quench your thirst. 

Your Diet Choices 

Caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee, foods that are salty, spicy, or sugary, are highly likely to dry you out faster and leave your body in demand for more water. The need for water will be even more if you don’t have any fruits or vegetables in your diet. Try adding some fruits to your diet so that you can easily fuel your body’s water requirements. 

Your Health Condition 

Health conditions at a particular time will also play an important role in deciding how much water you need. If you have an infection, any kind of fever, or conditions that might lead to diarrhea or vomiting, then your body will end up deprived of fluids, hence, causing you to drink more water. 

Health conditions, such as diabetes, will also cause your body to ask for more hydration. What adds more to the loss of water in your body are some medications, as they tend to draw water, and if you are not hydrated enough, the medications will end up drawing water from your organs, which is certainly not the ideal situation. 

Pregnant or Breastfeeding Stages

Women who are lactating, pregnant, or nursing their babies will have to drink extra water in order to stay hydrated. It goes without saying that another life is growing inside you, and you are required to take utmost care of your baby, after all. 

If You Take Supplements,

People who work out regularly require supplements to fulfill their nutritional needs. Some of the most common supplements are whey protein, creatine, pre-workout, and BCAAs. All of these supplements require your body to consume more water, especially creatine. Experts suggest that creatine can definitely help you gain a lot of muscle mass but can end up compromising your kidneys if you are not consuming enough water. 

So, if you are taking any kind of health supplement, you need to ensure that you are consuming enough water. This will not only help you avoid any severe side effects but will also help in better absorption of the supplements by your muscles. 

Still searching for the best Indian supplement brand? Try Muscle Trail, a leading supplement brand in the industry, is a pioneer in the supplement sector with a range of fitness and health products. All the products offered by Muscle Trail consist of ingredients that are sourced naturally and are aimed at bringing positive results. 

How to Ensure You Are Drinking Enough Water

You definitely don’t want dehydration, as it is bad for your skin, mental health, lips, and organs’ functionality. Your fluid intake can be considered appropriate if:

• You are not feeling thirsty more often
• Your urine is not yellow; it is either colorless or light yellow

You can consult your doctor to know the right amount of water that you might need on a daily basis. In order to prevent your body from dehydration and ensure that your body has the fluids that it requires for proper functioning, the best advice we can give you is to stay away from any kind of beverage. 

Tea, coffee, cold drinks, soft drinks, or any other salty or sugary drinks will promote the loss of water in your body. Make water your beverage of choice, and you can drink it:

• Before, during, and after your workout 
• Whenever you feel thirsty
• With each meal and between meals

In order to stay away from dehydration, you need to drink fluids gradually throughout the day. You must note that you can get fluids from water-rich foods such as salads and fruit. 

Benefits of Staying Hydrated

70% of your body weight is comprised of water. It’s about survival, as each and every tissue, cell, and organ in your body requires water to function properly. As for some of the health benefits of water, they are:

• Keeping your body temperature normal
• Providing lubrication and cushioning to your joints
• Gets rid of wastes through bowel movements, urination, and perspiration
• Safeguards sensitive tissues

The lack of water in your body can lead to severe dehydration, which will be a hindrance for your body to function properly. You must note that even mild dehydration can drain your energy significantly and make you exhausted. Still, reading this article? Are you sure you are not thirsty? Grab a cup of water whenever you wake up from your job.

Can I be Drinking Too Much Water

This is rare. Drinking too much water is rarely a problem for adults who are well-nourished and healthy. In order to prevent dehydration during long and intense workout sessions, athletes can occasionally drink too much water. When you drink too much water, a condition called hyponatremia is developed in your body. In this situation, your kidneys are unable to get rid of the excess water in the body, and this situation can be life-threatening. 

Summing Up

Water is extremely important for your muscles, organs, tissues, and mind. If you work out, you need more amounts of fluid to ensure proper blood flow to your muscles. Even slight dehydration in your body can lead to around 30% reduction in the physical strength of your muscles. So, drink it up! 

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