How Much Water You Should Be Drinking

How Much Water You Should Be Drinking In A Day 

You must have heard people saying that 8-ounce glasses of water are an appropriate measure. But this measure turned out to be an inaccurate measure. The actual amount of water that a person should have depends upon different factors such as where he lives, how much does he weigh and what kind of lifestyle does he lead. However, Mayo Clinic has recommended about 13 cups a day for men and about 9 cups a day for women. 

60% part of our body weight is made by water and it is absolutely imperative for the organs to function. Our body loses water through urine, sweat and even our breath.Therefore, drinking enough water is crucial. When we become dehydrated, our body loses energy and we become nauseated and tired. Severe dehydration can even make you see the hospital. So, drinking adequate amount of water is crucial. 

When we work out, we lose more water than any other person. So we must keep drinking water before, during and after work out. An extra 1 ½ to 2 ½ are sufficient for a short exercise. But if you are doing some extra exercises like running in a marathon, then you must drink much more than that. 

In summers, you should drink more water than what is recommended if the climate is too hot. Hot weather makes your body sweat and lose fluids faster. If you are suffering from fever, diarrhea or vomiting, then also you must drink more water than what is recommended. Even in pesky cold, you should drink water in order to avoid getting sicker. This will keep your nasal passage hydrated. 

Another situation when you should drink more water is when you are pregnant and breastfeeding. A pregnant woman should drink at least 10 cups water a day and a nursing woman should have 13 cups of water a day. Intake of water results in ample amount of milk supply and keeps your body hydrated. 1 cup of water every hour from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. is recommended by lactation specialist in pregnancy. 

To know if you are taking enough water or not, you can count your cups of water or you can peep in the toiler after you pee. If the color of your urine is clear or light yellow, this shows you are taking enough water. But if it shows dark yellow color or cloudy, then this shows that you are not taking enough water. 

If you want to avoid water, you can substitute it with coffee, milk or juice.