Did you know that your body is about 60% water? That’s more than half!
It also means that you must drink enough water to maintain a healthy amount of water in your body. Even the slightest decrease can leave you dehydrated.
Fortunately, there are plenty of benefits that make drinking more water well worth the effort.
Read on to learn more about those benefits and how much water you should be drinking.
Benefits of Drinking Water
There are several benefits of water consumption, not to mention that people need it to live.
Other than that, though, drinking the right amount of water helps protect your body by eliminating waste through urine and sweat, regulates your body temperature, and lubricates your joints.
Water health benefits also include helping with weight loss and managing your water weight.
Drinking enough water can also help prevent acne, depression, headaches, and more.
How Much Water You Need to Drink
Now that you know the importance of drinking water, you’re probably wondering, “How much water should I drink?”
For a long time, people passed around the myth that everyone should drink 8 glasses, or 64 ounces, of water a day.
The truth is that the right amount of water actually varies from person to person. How much you should drink will depend on your age, sex, activity level, and even where you live.
According to the Institute of Medicine, on average, women should drink 91 fl oz ounces a day, and men should drink 125 fl oz a day. Another good rule of thumb is to take your body weight in pounds and then drink half that number in ounces.
Make sure to drink when you’re thirsty and throughout the day.
What Counts Towards Your Intake
Another tip that doesn’t get shared as often as it should is that pure water isn’t the only thing that counts toward your daily intake. Other fluids that contain a decent amount of water like tea, coffee, and milk count as well.
Water-heavy foods can account for up to 20% of your daily water intake.
On the other hand, you’ll want to remain aware of any diuretics you consume. Items that encourage you to pee more or faster than you typically would, like coffee, can also reduce your intake.
And, of course, be sure to filter your water, so you aren’t consuming any unnecessary chemicals or bacteria. There are plenty of discount filters that make it easy.
Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough
Your body will react to dehydration to tell you when you need to drink more water.
If you experience dry mouth, frequent dry skin, or chapped lips, these could be signs that you’re dehydrated.
Headache and light-headedness can also indicate that you haven’t had enough water. The same goes for dizziness or the blood rushing to your head more easily than is normal when you stand up.
Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle
Drinking water benefits your mind and body in almost every way, and it makes sense considering you’re more than half water. Drinking a good amount of water each day will ensure that you get all of the benefits and is an easy step towards living healthier.
Follow the tips in this article to determine how much water you should be drinking each day and make it happen.
And if you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our blog regularly for more like it.