Eight glasses of water each day is the average estimate of the amount required to retain good health. Other factors increase the required amount, including geographic location, frequency and vigor of physical activity, your physical size and weather conditions. People living in warm climates or experiencing dry weather require more than eight glasses of water each day, and larger persons require additional water to stay healthy, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Body Temperature Regulation
Water assists in regulating overall body temperature. Humid and hot weather require additional water to maintain a constant temperature, due to increased perspiration. Dry, heated winter indoor temperatures also require additional water intake for an even body temperature. If you have a fever, you will need additional water to cool your body.
Joint Lubrication
Water lubricates the joints, and without proper hydration, joints may ache or even be painful when moved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that physically active people require more than eight glasses of water each day for joint health. It recommends drinking water at regular intervals during physical activity and also drinking after the activity.
Tissue Protection
The ear, throat and nose membranes are designed to function in a moist environment, according to the Mayo Clinic, and water contributes moisture to each area. Water is one of the fluids, also called a lymph, in the immune system that assist in blocking disease. The tissues in these three membranes are the first defense in fighting disease. To function properly, the membranes need water to create moisture.
Body Waste Removal
Bowel movements and urination remove toxic wastes from the body. Water assists in this process, according to the NIH. Perspiration is another way that the body excretes waste, and if you're dehydrated you will not experience normal metabolic release by sweating because your body lacks the excess fluids to excrete. The Mayo Clinic reports that the average person loses nearly 2L each day due to the fluid loss of urination, bowel movements, breathing and sweating. Eight glasses is an approximate equivalent replacement for this loss.
Moist Skin
The Mayo Clinic states that water is nearly 60 percent of a person's body weight. Dry skin is more susceptible to wrinkling, and dehydrated, dry skin "doesn't 'bounce back' when pinched into a fold," notes the Mayo Clinic.
Dental Health
Dry mouth creates a condition that allows bacteria in the mouth to quickly multiply, creating problems with plaque growth on the teeth. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) also notes that and fungi and bacteria growth on the tongue and tissues are a result of lack of saliva and a wet mouth. Water assists in flushing the germs and bacteria from the mouth.
Increased Energy
Dehydrated people have less energy, according to the Mayo Clinic. Even a mild case of dehydration will affect vigor and mental acuity. By the time the body feels thirst, dehydration has already started, according to the Mayo Clinic. Maintaining energy requires water intake throughout the day.
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