How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

We constantly lose water from our body, especially through urine and sweat. We need to consume enough water to prevent dehydration. So how much water should we drink per day?

There are many different opinions about how much water we should drink every day.

Health officials generally recommend that you drink about 2 liters of water. However, some health guru believe that you should constantly sip water throughout the day, even if you do not feel thirsty.

As with most things, it depends on the individual. Many factors (both inside and outside) affect your water needs.

Many people claim that if you don’t consume water during the day, your energy levels and brain function start to slow down. And there is a lot of work to support this.

A study in women showed that a 1.36% fluid loss after exercise impairs mood and concentration and increases the frequency of headaches. Other studies show that mild dehydration (1-3% of body weight) caused by exercise or temperature can damage many other aspects of brain function.

Remember that even just 1% of body weight is a fairly significant amount. Mild dehydration can adversely affect physical performance, leading to decreased endurance.

So how much fluid does an average, healthy adult need to consume in a temperate climate?

It is recommended to consume about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluid for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluid per day for women. Approximately 20 percent of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and beverages.