Water is so important for countless everyday processes in the human body. When dehydrated, the body and its organs will fail to function properly.
You may have heard before that the recommended amount of water human beings need to drink per day is approximately eight 8-ounce glasses. However, just how much water you need is actually much more individualized than that.
While the so-called “8×8” rule is a good place to start, it’s not an exact prescription. Your own personal recommended intake is based on various individualized factors, including your sex, age, general health and well-being, environmental conditions and activity levels. Other considerations for women, in particular, are related to processes of the reproductive system, such as if you’re currently pregnant or breastfeeding, which would entail greater water loss from the body.
While investigating what exactly all that information means in terms of practical applications, I found some differing results. But the various sources all said something similar: You’ll need a lot, maybe even more than you think. The following are two of the most effective ways to calculate just how much water your body needs on a day-to-day basis:
Water, weight, and activity levels
Step 1: The first step is to weigh yourself. The more someone weighs, the more water they’ll need to drink to maintain proper proportions of H2O in the body.
Step 2: Next, multiply your weight by the fraction 2/3 (or 67 percent) to determine the numerical value (in ounces) of how much water your body requires.
Step 3: That number will need to be adjusted based on how often you exercise because sweating expels water from the body. For every 30 minutes you work out, add 12 ounces of water to your total daily intake.
Water, weight, and age
Step 1: Take your weight (in pounds) and divide that number by 2.2.
Step 2: Multiply that number depending on your age…
If you’re younger than 30, multiply by 40.
If you’re between 30 and 55, multiply by 35.
If you’re older than 55, multiply by 30.
Step 3: Divide the sum by 28.3. The resulting number is how many ounces of water you should drink each day.
For both methods, divide the number you get (in ounces) by eight to see your daily recommendations in cups. It’s time to get hydrated!
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-much-water-should-I-drink
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a46956/how-much-water-should-i-drink/
https://www.slenderkitchen.com/article/how-to-calculate-how-much-water-you-should-drink-a-day
