Is 8 Glasses Enough?

Water is a crucial component of our bodies. It makes up 70% of our body! Our bodies need water to function and carry out major tasks like regulating temperature, lubricating joints for easier movement, get rid of wastes which, if left in our bodies could lead to intoxication and ultimately death. Drinking more water is often said to be the answer to everything. Having more energy, less hunger, clearer skin, and better bowel movements are only a small part of what water offers. It is known to reduce back pain, muscle soreness and even help focus. So yes, it is necessary that we drink water. But the myths that are put up about how much water we need is a little confusing. Online sources range from 4 cups (1 liter) a day to 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) a day for an adult. Do we really need to measure how much we must drink? Athletes and growing children may need more water than sedentary adults. People in tropical regions may need more water than those in drier, colder environments. If there is no fixed amount to how much we must drink, then how do we know if we are dehydrated or overhydrated? The dangers of dehydration are wide, and they vary from person to person. Someone may experience confusion, and others might have decreased appetite. Staying hydrated is important for your mental state and your physical state Drinking 8 glasses of water a day has become wellness wisdom nowadays. It has become trendier to measure your hydration with things like apps to remind you to drink water and water bottles that track your progress. It is highly proactive when you take actions to help you progress but when that crosses a line and is a cause of anxiety, that could cause more harm than good. Stay alert about your hydration, not anxious If you're at home and you wanna learn about how much you should be drinking, your preliminary first step would be to google it. The search comes back with 701 million results. That is a lot of people with a lot of different opinions and most of them are backed with facts which only makes it even more confusing, leaving you with more questions than when you started. We shouldn't be making calculations based on our BMI either (a lot of articles in that 701 million have a rather different opinion). The Institute of Medicine recommends that women get 2.7 liters (11 cups) of fluid per day, but they don’t say you need to drink 11 cups of water a day. We tend to forget to account for the fluid levels in the foods like fruits that we eat. Think about a watermelon, which is 92% water. Other fluids such as tea, coffee, and juice can contribute to your daily fluid intake. However, it's important to pay attention to the sugar and calorie content of these beverages and choose options that are low in added sugars and calories. Your water intake depends on several factors like your age, sex, diet, activity level, and lifestyle. The most important factor that we need to think about is our activity level. If you’re exercising in a very hot environment, you’re going to need significantly more amount of water to make up for the losses you experience. Hydration is important for exercise performance. When you exercise, your body loses fluids through sweating, and if you're not properly hydrated, it can lead to decreased exercise performance and increased risk of injury. Drinking fluids before, during, and after exercise is recommended to maintain proper hydration levels. It's important to note that hydration needs can also vary based on certain health conditions or medications. For example, some medications may cause increased urination, leading to a higher need for hydration. Additionally, certain health conditions such as kidney disease or heart failure can also affect hydration levels. It's important to discuss your specific hydration needs with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. It's also important to mention that staying hydrated is especially important during certain times, such as when you're sick or when you're pregnant. When you're sick, your body may lose more fluids due to fever, sweating, and other factors, so it's important to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Similarly, pregnant women need to drink enough fluids to support the growth and development of the fetus. How can you tell if you’re hydrated enough? The amount of water you should be drinking is based on two factors: the color of your urine and the level of your thirst. Your urine is the best indicator of your hydration status. When you are well-hydrated, your urine looks clear or pale yellow. But when you are dehydrated, your kidneys actively hold onto more fluid, leading to darker urine. Additionally, your level of thirst is a good indicator of your hydration status. Your body knows what it needs more than anybody else. Being hydrated can help uplift your mood, your energy, and even your skin's moisture. But it's not a silver bullet. You can't just chug a lot of water one day and expect immediate results. Staying hydrated is a baseline level of wellness.

If you’re interested in trying out some of the tech that will help you stay hydrated, that's perfectly fine. But remember, humans have survived thousands of years simply because they listened to their bodies. Our bodies have natural thirst mechanisms to remind us to stay hydrated. There are some speculations that thirst is a sign of dehydration and well it is true to a certain extent, but it isn't something that can't be fixed with a glass of water.

All the benefits that we have talked about really stem from the fact that you’re preventing dehydration. Once that is taken care of, more isn't going to do too much. But don’t be afraid to have a sip.