Water is basically the most important necessity of the human body. Dieticians, general doctors, gym instructors and even your parents will constantly remind you to drink water every day. It’s not exactly magic but the benefits are amazing – especially if you religiously incorporate drinking a lot of water in your routine.
The human body is composed of 60% water. According to H.H. Mitchell, a biochemist, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water and even about 30% of your bones.
Everything you consume contains water. Fruits, vegetables and prepped food and drinks such as juices and soups contain water and it contributes to your overall well-being.
Generally, water helps to maintain body fluids among many other benefits. But how much are you allowed to take? And is it possible to take too much?
How much water should you drink in a day?
Medical professionals say that the adequate intake is about 15 to 16 cups or 3 to 4 liters a day for men. While women need about 11 to 12 cups or 2 to 3 liters of fluids a day.
Although studies show that there is no magic formula to compute how much water you need; you can factor in things such as how much you sweat, your level of activity, your age, your weight and your current health status. You may also factor the times in day. For example, it’s highly suggested that you start your day out by drinking water and a bottle won’t hurt before working out.
If you’re feeling under the weather, drinking water every so often will help you recover faster.
In general, listen to your body. If your hydration lowers down, you’ll feel thidrinkginrsty and that’s your cue to drink.
Is overhydration a thing?
We’ve pointed out several times that your body should be best friends with water but who would’ve known that overhydration is possible.
This occurs when the body takes in more water than it loses. The results of drinking too much water can lead to the disruption of the body’s sodium balance and cause water intoxication, which can be very dangerous.
Though this is much more common among people whose kidneys excrete urine abnormally, you can never be too careful yourself.
Signs and symptoms of overhydration include headaches, vomiting, irritability, fatigue and muscle cramps.
How much water is too much water?
Drinking too much water is usually better than drinking too little because discharging excess water is easier than conserving water. Especially when kidneys are performing normally, the human body can handle wide variations of fluid intake.
Rule of thumb is to drink when thirsty. You might also consider alternating between water and sports drinks to replenish electrolytes and reduce excess water intake for those physically active.
So don’t worry about over drinking water. You should worry more about not drinking enough. Sometimes, you won’t notice that you don’t so it helps that you have a tumbler with you at all times so you can stay hydrated all throughout the day.
