How much daily water intake

Julian Seifter, a kidney specialist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Water keeps every system in the body functioning properly.

If you don't drink enough water each day, you risk becoming dehydrated. Warning signs of dehydration include weakness, low blood pressure, dizziness, confusion, or urine that's dark in color. The daily four-to-six cup rule is for generally healthy people.

It's possible to take in too much water if you have certain health conditions, such as thyroid disease or kidney, liver, or heart problems; or if you're taking medications that make you retain water, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , opiate pain medications, and some antidepressants. How much water a day should you drink if you fit into that category? There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Seifter says water intake must be individualized, and you should check with your doctor if you are not sure about the right amount for you.

But even a healthy person's water needs will vary, especially if you're losing water through sweat because you're exercising, or because you're outside on a hot day. If you're wondering how much water you should drink on those occasions, speak with your doctor, but a general rule of thumb for healthy people is to drink two to three cups of water per hour, or more if you're sweating heavily.

It's not just water that keeps you hydrated. All beverages containing water contribute toward your daily needs. And it's a myth that caffeinated beverages or those containing alcohol are dehydrating because they make you urinate. They do, but over the course of the day, the water from these beverages still leads to a net positive contribution to total fluid consumption. 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 drinks per day for men. Based on this data, they published recommendations that they called adequate intakes AIs in a study. AIs are based on the median water intake from U.

A wide range of intakes is typical in a population. For instance, physically active people or those who live in hotter environments will require a higher intake of water. Your body weight is made up of 60 percent water. Every system in your body needs water to function. The current IOM recommendation for people ages 19 and older is around ounces for men and 95 ounces for women. This refers to your overall fluid intake per day, including anything you eat or drink that contains water, like fruits or vegetables.

The IOM recommends that pregnant women of all ages should aim to get 80 ounces, or 10 cups of water, each day. Water is important for most processes your body goes through in a day. When you drink water, you replenish your stores. Drinking enough water can also help you look your best. For example, a research review looked at the ways that water can keep your skin looking healthy. When you drink plenty of water, you keep it healthy and hydrated.

Your body is constantly using and losing fluids through actions like sweating and urinating. Dehydration happens when your body loses more water or fluid than it takes in. Symptoms of dehydration can range from being extremely thirsty to feeling fatigued. Signs of dehydration in children listed by Medline Plus include:.

If you have severe dehydration, you may need treatment at the hospital. Your doctor will likely give you intravenous IV fluids and salts until your symptoms go away. When you drink too much, the extra water can dilute the electrolytes in your blood.

Your sodium levels decrease and can lead to what is called hyponatremia. As plain drinking water has zero calories, it can also help with managing body weight and reducing caloric intake when substituted for drinks with calories, like regular soda.

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