Almost 60% of our body comprises of water. It helps improve your energy levels, brain function and bowel movements and addresses chronic problems like piles and electrolyte balance. We all know that this daily fluid intake is crucial for our good health.
But the question is how much water should you be drinking? Some would say 3 liters is enough while there are many who would insist that it needs to be anywhere between 4-5 liters. Some health experts feel that you need to keep sipping water as and when you feel thirsty.
Here is a quick lowdown on some of the most pertinent advice that you could take into account to regulate your water intake.
1.The Climatic Condition: Your water intake is directly proportional to the climate that you are in. For example in temperate regions, roughly 13 cups of fluid might be considered adequate for an adult. But the same can’t be true for those who are living in tropical areas with hot and humid days. The water intake there is going to be invariably higher than temperate regions. Similarly, in polar areas where it is even colder with bare minimum sweating, the water intake might be even lesser.
2.The 8 Glasses Advice: Though there is no scientific study to prove the authenticity of this advice, it is by far a fairly adequate measure of daily water intake. 8 glasses is roughly about 2 liters of water. The studies conducted world over indicate that on an average people need 2-3 liters of water daily. So sticking to it will make sure that you are having at least the basic minimum you need to drink.
3.Health Condition: Your water intake also changes significantly depending on the state of your health. If you have a sedentary life and not working out much, you would surely need to drink less water compared to someone who is working out rigorously. If you have a fever, flu, pregnant, have a urinary infection or even breast feeding, your average water intake would be much higher. So while you are deciding on how much water is adequate for you, you must take this key factor into consideration for sure.
How Can You Decide If your Water Intake Is Adequate?
Well, then what is the key indicator that can help you decide whether you are drinking enough? It is decidedly your bowel movements. People who drink adequate water generally don’t have constipation issues. But if you are prone to conditions like piles and constipation quite often, then the writing is on the wall, you need to drink more.
Your urine color through the day is also a key indicator. A deep yellow hue despite not having Jaundice means that you are not taking in enough fluids. There is hardly a case where you are drinking too much water.
Conclusion
Drinking less water can pose a lot of health risks. So the rule of thumb is to drink adequate amount every time you are thirsty. Don’t just sip to satiate your thirst. This will make sure that you are at least drinking 8-12 glasses of water every day.
Dr Raza Health Blog 