How much water should you drink in a day

How much water should you drink in a day

If you drink too much, then you'll feel the effects of dehydration. If you drink too little, you'll feel the effects of dehydration as well, since your body needs water in order to perform most of its functions.How much water should you drink a day? You probably know that it's important to drink plenty of fluids when the temperatures soar outside. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says. Unfortunately, many of us aren't getting enough to drink, especially older adults. "Older people don't sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they're on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic," says Dr. Julian Seifter, a kidney specialist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 3.7 liters of fluids per day for men and 2.7 liters for women. This seems like a lot, but remember that about 20% of our daily fluid intake comes from food. There are multiple foods that are 85% water that are a great source of hydration and other important vitamins we need, including cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, apples and kale. So, after accommodating for fluids obtained from food, the adage of aiming to drink about six to eight glasses of water a day (1.2-1.5 liters) is generally agreed upon and seems practical. Higher daily amounts are needed for athletes, for those who live in hot or humid climates or at high altitudes, and for those sick with fever, vomiting or diarrhea.

WATER

Exercise. If you exercise often, the American Council on Exercise recommends you drink 17 to 20 ounces of water 2 to 3 hours before you exercise. They also recommend you drink an additional 8 ounces of water just before and after working out. You may need to add even more if you work out for longer than an hour. How much water should you drink a day? You probably know that it's important to drink plenty of fluids when the temperatures soar outside. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says. Unfortunately, many of us aren't getting enough to drink, especially older adults. "Older people don't sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they're on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic," says Dr. Julian Seifter, a kidney specialist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Of course, there are many reasons why water is still the better choice. Remember, sugary drinks can lead to weight gain and inflammation, which can increase your risk for developing diseases such as diabetes. Too much caffeine can give you the jitters or keep you from sleeping. And, alcohol intake should be limited to one drink per day for women, and 1-2 drinks per day for men. So it’s no surprise that TikTok and social media abound with fads surrounding adequate hydration and hacks on how to achieve it. One of the more well-known is the #gallonofwateraday, encouraging participants to drink one gallon, or 4.5 liters, of water per day. Meanwhile, #cirkul has garnered almost 400 million views on TikTok for a seemingly normal-looking water bottle with an intensity-adjustable water-flavoring mechanism to stimulate drinking. And elsewhere on social media, Khloe Kardashian swears by her $23 motivational water bottle that has become a best-seller on Amazon. (Source: www.usatoday.com)