![drinking water](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/how-much-water-should-we-drink.jpg?output-quality=75)
How much water you should drink on a daily basis varies from person to person and depends on your body type, weight, lifestyle, diet, where you live and other factors.
While everyone has different needs, nutritionists generally recommend that an adequate amount of water for the average healthy adult is:
- About 2.7 liters (11.5 cups) a day for women
- About 3.7 liters (15.5 cups) a day for men
Since about 20% of your daily water intake already comes from the food you eat, it’s important to focus on the remaining 80%.
What factors affect how much water you need to drink each day?
You may need more or less water than another person. While sticking to the baseline above is a good way to manage your water intake, keep in mind that how much you need to drink to stay properly hydrated depends on the following factors:
Age
- Young children and preteens need at least 1 liter of water a day, although anything more than that is also beneficial.
- Teenagers and adults should have a minimum of about 2 liters of water a day, although the baseline amounts are better for optimal hydration.
Body mass and weight
- The more you weigh, the more water you need to stay hydrated. Someone who weighs 200 pounds will need more fluids than someone who weighs 100 pounds to keep organs operating smoothly.
- A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine found that people with higher body mass index (BMI) were the least hydrated, suggesting that water intake may play as big a role as diet and exercise in weight loss.
Physical activity
- The amount of water you need depends on how active you are. If you’re active during the day and regularly stand or walk around, you will need to drink more than someone who sits at a desk all day.
- If you exercise a lot, you’ll also need more water to stay hydrated. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking 16 ounces of water before you exercise, 4-8 ounces during exercise and another 16 ounces after exercise.
Temperature and weather
- If you live in an area with very hot or dry weather, you may need to consume a little more to compensate for water loss.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- If you’re pregnant, your daily water intake may need to increase by a liter or more, depending on your weight and BMI. Your doctor will usually tell you how much water you need to drink each day for the health of you and your baby.
- After giving birth, you will need to drink more water to stay hydrated to compensate for the loss of energy during labor.
- If you are breastfeeding, your body is exerting a lot of energy and may demand even more water.
What are the benefits of drinking more water every day?
Good hydration is necessary for several body functions, helping to:
- Maintain optimal body temperature and proper lubrication of joints
- Flush out toxins through your urine and sweat
- Prevent kidney stones
- Prevent urinary tract infections
- Keep the mucous membranes (the mouth, eyes and nose) moist
- Prevent constipation
- Improve skin condition
- Boost weight loss
What should you avoid when increasing your water intake?
Foods to avoid
Eating water-rich snacks such as melon, berries and cucumber slices can help you increase your daily water intake through food, and beverages like milk or herbal tea are also good sources of hydration. But beware of caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda, since these are dehydrating.
Don’t overdo it
Drinking too much water could lead to hyponatremia (low sodium levels), also known as water intoxication, where sodium levels in the body become overly diluted. This can lead to swelling in the brain, seizures and coma. So if you’re feeling quenched, don’t overdo it.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/human-body/human-body-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Water – a vital nutrient: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/water-a-vital-nutrient
Top Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day? Related Articles
Can Drinking Water Help Prevent a Stroke?
Many studies have proven that proper hydration at the time of a stroke is linked to better stroke recovery. It is possible that dehydration causes blood to be thicker. Viscous blood causes the body to retain sodium and increases blood pressure. Drinking enough water regularly prevents dehydration. This may play a role in keeping the blood less viscous, which in turn prevents a stroke.Can Drinking Water Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Keeping well hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water daily (even more if working in hot and humid conditions) is beneficial for the blood pressure. High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a condition caused by the persistent high pressure of blood against the walls of arteries. It is also called systolic pressure (constantly greater than 139 mmHg) or diastolic pressure (constantly more than 89 mmHg).Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Dehydration in Adults & Children
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of dehydration include headache, lightheadedness, constipation, and bad breath. Treatment for dehydration is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.Dehydration Slideshow
Do you know the signs of dehydration? Dehydration can be mild or life-threatening. Learn causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevention tips to avoid dehydration.Does Drinking Water Help Diverticulitis?
Yes, drinking water may help resolve diverticulitis. However, the overall management of diverticulitis depends on the extent of the disease. Only hydration may not help in all cases. It is advised to maintain a liquid diet, such as clear liquids or broths, during the first few days of the diverticulitis attack. This is because constipation is a major cause of diverticulitis.What Are the 14 Signs of Dehydration?
Dehydration is a common problem. While many people think they’re drinking enough, approximately 75% of Americans aren’t. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of dehydration is important for reversing it and ensuring your body gets the water it needs.How Long Does It Take to Rehydrate After Dehydration?
Learn about the symptoms of dehydration, how to rehydrate, and how long it takes to rehydrate.How Much Water Should You Drink Based on Your Weight?
Generally, you should aim to drink about 64 ounces of water per day. Check out the center below for more medical references on nutrition, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.Hydration Quiz
Do you know how much water you should be drinking on a daily basis? It may not be what you think. Take this quiz to learn how to stay hydrated.Is Drinking a Lot of Water Good for Your Prostate?
Doctors recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water (or 1.5 to 2 liters) daily. For prostate problems, limit water intake before going to bed at night. This will keep you from waking up at night to urinate repeatedly.Is Drinking Distilled Water Good or Bad for You?
Distilled water is considered the purest form of water. There are both potential risks and benefits of drinking distilled water.7 Ways Water Benefits the Body
Drinking water benefits digestion, metabolism, toxin elimination, and other functions. Water promotes weight loss and helps prevent dehydration. Health benefits of hydration include improvements in mood, skin health, and ability to work out.What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Enough Water?
You might be surprised at how well your body works when you drink enough water. Find out exactly what can go right when you get your H2O.Water Safety: What's Inside Your Drinking Water?`
What are the benefits of drinking water? How do you keep your drinking water safe and healthy? Learn about the water you drink and possible contaminants like giardia, cryptosporidium, lead, chlorine, and more. Discover how to boil your water in an emergency, and why fluoride in tap water is healthy for teeth.