Health experts often recommend people drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. This is commonly known as the “8×8” rule. It may not apply to everyone, though. In this article, you will get to know how much water should you drink per day.
The most important thing about water
The body constantly loses water throughout the day, mostly through urine and sweat but also from regular body functions like breathing. To prevent dehydration, you need to drink plenty of water. Some experts believe that you need to sip on water constantly throughout the day, even when you are not thirsty.
How much water you need to drink also depends on the following things
- Where you live: You will need more water if you live in an area where there is a hot climate or if you are living in the mountains or at a high altitude.
- Your diet: If you drink a lot of coffee or any other caffeinated beverages later you may need water due to urination. If you don’t eat a lot of hydrating foods then you may need to drink more water. Mostly you should eat fruits and vegetables.
- The temperature or season: In the summer season you will need more water to drink. You will feel thirsty as the sun will dehydrate you. Apart from that if you spend more time outdoors in the sun or hot temperatures or in a heated room, you might feel soon thirsty.
- How active you are: If you are active during the day or walk or stand a lot, you will need more water than someone who’s sitting at a desk. If you are doing exercise you will need to drink more water.
Does water intake affect energy levels and brain function?
Many people claim that if you don’t stay hydrated throughout the day, your energy levels and brain function start to suffer. Water makes up a majority of your body weight and is involved in many important functions. This includes flushing out waste from your body, regulating your body temperature, and helping your brain function.
Water will help you in the following ways
It helps create saliva: Water is a main component of saliva. Saliva also includes small amounts of electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes. It’s essential for breaking down solid food and keeping your mouth healthy.
It regulates your body temperature: Staying hydrated is crucial to maintaining your body temperature. Your body loses water through sweat during physical activity or during the summer season. If you are sweating more than usual, make sure you drink plenty of water.
It helps maximize physical performance: It is very important to drink plenty of water when you are doing physical activity. As hydration also affects your strength, power, and endurance. If you don’t stay hydrated, your physical performance can suffer.
It helps boost energy: Drinking water may activate your metabolism. A boost in metabolism has been associated with a positive impact on energy levels.