Why Do We Need Water?
About 60% of your body weight is made of water. You need it for every single body function. It flushes toxins from your organs, carries nutrients to your cells, cushions your joints, and helps you digest the food you eat.
If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. Severe cases of dehydration can cause dizziness, confusion, and even seizures.
That’s why it’s important to get the water your body needs every day. No set amount is right for everyone. How much you need can depend on your size, how much exercise you do, how hot the weather is, and other factors. Your doctor can help you determine what’s right for you.
How Much Water Do You Need Each Day?
We’ve all heard that eight glasses of water each day isbest. But the truth is, the daily water intake that each person needs varies. But there are some basic guidelines:
- For men, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends a total of 13 cups (about 3 liters) of fluid each day.
- For women, they suggest 9 cups (a little over 2 liters) of fluid each day. Pregnant women should drink about 10 cups of water daily. Those who breastfeed need about 12 cups.
If you’re outside on a hot day or doing something that makes you sweat a lot, you’ll need to drink more fluids to stay hydrated. The same is true if you have an illness that causes you to throw up, have diarrhea, or run a fever.
If you have a condition like heart failure or a particular type of kidney disease, you may need to limit your fluid intake. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.
How Much Water Should Kids Drink?
Like adults, how much water children need depends on many things, like their age, how much they weigh, and their gender. Other things that play a role include how healthy and active they are and what the climate is like where they live.
In general, children and teens need about 6 to 8 cups of water a day. They should also eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, which are full of water. Younger kids need less water. Kids aged 1-3 years old should drink about 4 cups of water a day, and those aged 4-8 years old need about 5 cups.
During play or exercise, a good goal is to drink a half cup to 2 cups of water every 15 to 20 minutes.
Infants are the exception to this rule. Babies under 6 months shouldn't be given plain water. Because a baby's stomach is about the size of an egg, giving them plain water may take up the limited space in their belly for breastmilk or formula. These higher-calorie meals are essential for their growth.
Benefits of Drinking Water
Water helps to keep you healthy in a number of ways. When you drink enough, it:
- Helps you remove waste from your body through your urine, stool, and sweat
- Helps your body stay at a normal temperature
- Helps protect delicate tissues in your body
- Keeps your joints cushioned and lubricated
- Adds to skin health and keeping your skin plumped
Does Drinking Water Help You Lose Weight?
There's some evidence that hints that drinking more water can help you lose weight. These benefits include:
Drinking more water can stimulate your metabolism.
When you drink chilled water, your body has to work harder to warm the liquid to body temperature. The more energy your body spends, the faster it has to convert what you eat and drink into energy.
It can help you feel fuller faster.
A small study notes that people who drank two glasses of water before a meal ate 22% less.
Swapping water for other beverages can lower your overall calorie intake.
Unlike juice, soda, or sports beverages, water contains zero calories. Swapping in water as your go-to beverage can cut the number of calories you take in every day.
Just drinking more water may not lead to significant amounts of weight loss. But drinking water can aid your health and help you stay more active overall.
What Counts as Water Intake?
Your recommended water intake includes all sources -- drinking water, other beverages, and food. But be careful -- certain fluids have their drawbacks.
The following have water, but they can also be high in sugar and calories:
- Coffee and tea . Both beverages provide water. But, they also contain caffeine, which may have a mild diuretic effect. Most healthy people can safely drink about 2 to 4 8-ounce cups of coffee each day. Scale back if it makes you feel anxious or jittery.
- Alcoholic drinks. Beer, wine, and some co*cktails have water, too. But like caffeine, they actually cause you to lose more water through your urine. This can lead to dehydration.
- Sports drinks. Bottled sports drinks have a high water content. They also contain carbohydrates and electrolytes, which can help you absorb water and keep your energy levels up. During intense workouts, they help to replace salt lost through sweat. But be careful: many also contain lots of extra calories, sugar, and salt. Check the nutrition label. Pay attention to the serving size, and limit how many you drink.
- Energy drinks. These are different from sports drinks. They contain sugar, as well as stimulants, like caffeine -- often in high doses. Many doctors recommend that children and teens avoid them.
- Some foods.Fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, celery, and watermelon are over 90% water. They also provide a variety of vitamins and minerals. Soups, stews, and gelatin also contain fluids to meet your needs.
How Much Water Is Too Much?
It’s rare to drink too much water if you’re a healthy adult who eats a regular American diet. But it can happen.
If you drink a lot of water but your kidneys can’t get rid of the excess, you could develop a condition doctors call hyponatremia. That means the minerals in your blood are diluted, or watered down. As a result, sodium levels in the blood fall. Your body’s water levels rise and your cells swell. It can lead to serious (even life-threatening) problems. Endurance athletes, like marathon runners, are at risk for this condition.
Certain health conditions can also play a role in how much water you need. Ask your doctor for guidance if you:
- Have thyroid disease
- Have kidney, liver, or heart problems
- Take meds that make you hold water, like NSAIDs, opiate pain meds, and some antidepressants
Water intoxication
If you drink too much water, you may be at risk for water intoxication. Common water intoxication symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
It's rare to drink too much water. Often, cases of water intoxication result from drinking too much water after exercise or competing in water drinking competitions. If left untreated, water intoxication can be fatal.
How to Drink More Water
Try the following tips to get more water:
- Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day.
- Add slices of cucumber, lemon, lime, or orange to your water to give it more flavor.
- Order water at restaurants to save money.
- Eat vegetables and fruits like watermelon, cucumbers, and lettuce to get more water through your diet.
- If you're struggling to give up sugary soda, alternate having a glass of water in between sodas.
Am I Drinking Enough Water?
Do you drink enough fluid that you rarely feel thirsty? Is your pee either clear or light yellow? If you can answer “yes” to both, you’re probably getting all the fluid you need.
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Importance of Water:
Water is essential for the proper functioning of our bodies. It plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including flushing toxins from organs, carrying nutrients to cells, cushioning joints, and aiding in digestion [[SOURCE 1]].
Dehydration:
Not getting enough water can lead to dehydration, which can have severe consequences. Symptoms of dehydration can include dizziness, confusion, and even seizures [[SOURCE 1]].
Daily Water Intake:
The amount of water each person needs can vary based on factors such as size, exercise level, weather, and other individual factors. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends a total of 13 cups (about 3 liters) of fluid each day for men and 9 cups (a little over 2 liters) for women [[SOURCE 1]]. Pregnant women should drink about 10 cups of water daily, while those who breastfeed need about 12 cups [[SOURCE 1]].
Water Intake for Children:
Children and teens generally need about 6 to 8 cups of water a day. Younger kids aged 1-3 years old should drink about 4 cups of water a day, and those aged 4-8 years old need about 5 cups [[SOURCE 1]].
Benefits of Drinking Water:
Drinking enough water has several benefits, including helping remove waste from the body, regulating body temperature, protecting tissues, keeping joints lubricated, and maintaining skin health [[SOURCE 1]].
Water and Weight Loss:
There is some evidence suggesting that drinking more water can aid in weight loss. Drinking water can stimulate metabolism, make you feel fuller faster, and lower overall calorie intake if you replace sugary beverages with water [[SOURCE 1]].
What Counts as Water Intake:
Your recommended water intake includes all sources, including drinking water, other beverages, and water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. However, it's important to be cautious with certain fluids that may contain high sugar and calorie content, such as coffee and tea with added sweeteners, alcoholic drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks [[SOURCE 1]].
Drinking Too Much Water:
While it's rare to drink too much water, excessive water intake can lead to a condition called hyponatremia, where the minerals in the blood become diluted. This can cause serious health problems. Endurance athletes and individuals with certain health conditions may be at higher risk [[SOURCE 1]].
Tips for Drinking More Water:
If you want to increase your water intake, you can try carrying a water bottle with you, adding slices of fruits to your water for flavor, ordering water at restaurants, eating water-rich fruits and vegetables, and gradually reducing sugary soda intake [[SOURCE 1]].
Assessing Water Intake:
To determine if you're drinking enough water, consider if you rarely feel thirsty and if your urine is clear or light yellow. If both conditions are met, you're likely getting enough fluid [[SOURCE 1]].
Remember, water is essential for our overall health and well-being. It is important to stay hydrated and meet our body's water needs.
