How much water should I really be drinking?

Everyone always says to stay hydrated and to drink water. But exactly how much should we be drinking per day? This is where things tend to get a bit complicated as everyone has different numbers on the subject. Some say you that the recommended daily amount for men is 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) for women 11.5 cups (2.7 liters). Others say that the 8X8 rule is the easiest to remember and therefore apply. For those who are not familiar with the 8X8 rule it simply means you should drink eight glass of eight ounces a water per day.

However, let's take into consideration different body types. For example should a small petite woman in her 80s drink that much water every day? What about those who exercise on a daily basis does this cover it as well? While it is always good to drink plenty of fluids during the day it is important to understand your hydration threshold. Why? This way you are able to tell if and when you are dehydrated as well as being able to understand what it feels like to be hydrated.

It may surprise you to know that more than half of the population lives a dehydrated life. Why drink bland water when you can substitute it with fizzy soda or coffee that has water in it right? While most try to choose water let's face it, it is a pretty bland choice. Dehydration takes a serious toll on your body it can make you nauseous, dizzy, you can have headaches as well as decreased kidney function. Since the kidneys act as a filter for your body the decrease in activity can cause a buildup which will lead to an internal traffic jam.

That being said let's take a more calculated look at how much water we should be drinking.

If you want to base it off of your weight follow these steps:

1. First take your weight in pounds and divide that by 2.2.

2. Then proceed to multiply that number depending on your age: If you're younger than 30, multiply by 40. If you're between 30-55, multiply by 35. If you're older than 55, multiply by 30.

3. Then divide the sum by 28.3.

4. Your total is how many ounces of water you should drink each day. Divide that number by 8 to see your result in cups.

This is more accurate in how much you should drink because everybody is different. Though a general rule of thumb is nice if you want more precise control over your liquids this is a viable solution for you. Now what about those who exercise and are active? This one is more difficult to pinpoint exactly as everyone has different rates of sweat and how much they sweat. However the rule of thumb here is for every 45 to 60 minutes of exercise you should add a minimum of 40 ounces to your daily total.

So there you have it! While there are many different numbers floating around you now have the opportunity to tailor your daily intake to your specific body weight. While this is all well and good don't forget to listen to your body as well. If you are mostly sedentary and find your calculated average is too much then feel free to cut back. Ultimately you want to feel better drinking more water and avoid feeling uncomfortable. I hope you found this informative. See you next time!