In a world of coffee, fruit juice, soda, sports drinks and alcoholic beverages, water sometimes takes a back seat to more colorful and tasty beverages. As The Ohio State University Office of Student Life explains, water makes up the majority of your body and the average adult carries 10 to 12 gallons of water. Water is mandatory for your survival. It can be quite beneficial to become familiar with water, why it is so important and how much you actually need.
History
Even if you do not consider yourself health conscious, you may know that water is "good" for you and you should drink at least eight cups of water every day. According to Harvard Medical School, the recommendation of drinking eight cups of water is a bit of a "misunderstanding" that can be traced to the National Academy of Sciences 1940s suggestion that the average adult who consumes 2,000 calories required 8 cups of water for optimal hydration, but most of this water would come from solid food. Americans took this suggestion as a requirement to drink at least eight glasses of water each day and have stuck to it ever since.
Factors Determining Water Intake
There is not a uniform established amount of water that all adults should consume on a daily basis. Your water requirements will depend on a variety of factors, according to MayoClinic.com. These factors include your health, how physically active you are and where you live. If you have a fever or have been vomiting, you will need more water. If you have kidney or liver disease you might have to limit your water intake. If you are physically active or live in a hot or humid climate, you will require additional water to replace lost fluids.
Recommendations
Although several factors will contribute to your water requirements, MayoClinic.com states that most doctors still recommend you drink eight or nine glasses of water per day. In terms of total fluid intake, the Institute of Medicine advises men should consume about 13 cups of total beverages a day and women should consume about 9 cups of total beverages a day. MayoClinic.com notes that your fluid intake is adequate if your urine is colorless or very light yellow. In order to prevent dehydration or if you wish to err on the side of caution, drinking a little more water rather than a little less is suggested. According to Student Health Services at Columbia University, your kidneys can process 15 liters or 60 glasses of water a day. The likelihood of drinking too much water is extremely small.
Healthy Lifestyle and Considerations
Adequate water intake is essential for optimal health and wellness. Water plays a critical role in temperature regulation, digestion, cellular health, chemical reactions in your body, removal of bodily waste products and the transportation of vitamins and minerals. Without proper hydration you will not be able to physically or cognitively perform to your potential. A healthy lifestyle should not substitute coffee or diet soda for water. Caffeinated beverages should be consumed only in moderation because they act as diuretics and promote water loss and possible dehydration, requiring you to drink more water. Just because the beverages you are consuming are liquid does not mean they are hydrating your body.
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