Ever wonder how much water you need each day?
Dr Ellen Lewis shared an information packed presentation at the Connecticut Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Council Event. One of her tips made so much sense, I just had to share it!
To figure out how much water you should drink each day, divide your weight (in pounds) by 2. You need to drink that number of ounces of water each day.
For example:
Weight: 150 lbs
Divided by 2: 75
This person should drink 75 ounces of water per day.
Really?
If that seems like a lot – think about it this way. Your body needs water to move your blood through your body, make your lymph system work, and hydrate your tissues. The bigger the body – the more fluid you need.
Without the proper amount of water, your body doesn’t function properly. It is more than just dry skin or dry mouth – it is reducing your body’s ability to flow. This can result in achy joints and muscles, high blood pressure, reduced kidney function, and that’s just the start of the list of possible issues.
Really? Does it have to be water?
Well, no, but water is best for the majority of your fluid intake. Water doesn’t contain anything more – it is just water. No calories, no additive, nothing extra. Unsweetened herbal tea (or sweetened with pure Stevia) would be next in preference. A squirt of fruit juice into water adds a bit of flavor without any real addition of calories. Coffee is fine as some of your fluids – although it contains caffeine, but no additional calories. Non-fat milk works well for some of your fluid intake, but does have calories. Fruit juices carry quite a few calories and should be enjoyed in moderation.
Things you shouldn’t count/use as your daily fluid intake:
Soda: Nope, it doesn’t count. Treat soda as liquid candy – it is loaded with calories and chemicals your body doesn’t need and often can’t use. Even diet soda is loaded with chemicals, and is often high in sodium which counteracts your hydration efforts.
Sports Drinks: Unless you need to replace electrolytes because you have been seriously sweating for an extended period of time, you should use a sports drink. Originally designed to aid athletes in performance, somehow sports drinks have become a casual beverage. Seriously, it isn’t a “health drink” – stop it.
Powdered Stuff: Pouring a powder into your water bottle loads it up with chemicals your body doesn’t need. The exception to this would be pure powered lemon or lime juice.
Are you getting enough water each day? Keep track today and find out. Experiment with increasing your intake. How does it make you feel? Yes, you may have to visit the restroom more often, but a bit more walking doesn’t hurt either!
Drink up!
10 Responses to “How Much Water Do You Need?”
Drinking water makes me feel great. I meet my daily requirement before I go to work if my math is right and then I make sure that I have a pitcher on my desk and at least two refillable bottles in the car. Water (and lip gloss, why is that IDK) reenergize me through out the day.
I only drink water and alcohol, now there’s a motto, and we carbonate tap water at home to keep it interesting. Adding bitters is great but a friend taught me to add vinegar. We use fancy flavors from Vom Foss but organic Apple Cider from Trader Joe’s is quite good. It’s a huge pick me up and tastes great. Just a splash in a pint of carbonated water will make you feel like a new person.
My only warning is that once you are used to drinking water, if you don’t have it, you will feel it. Having my own bottle is really important to me when I’m (often) out and about.
Thanks Juli! The carbonation is a great idea – I’ll have to add that to the next list 🙂
I didn’t know that you were a water lover also! I preach to people all of the time that that should be very thing they attack as soon as they get out of bed. For me it’s a 32oz Gatorade bottle that I keep. I down that within 5 minutes of the alarm going off and then a couple of more times during the day. Go go H2O !
That is a great tip Patrick! Thanks for sharing it!
Eliz,
Here’s my approach to staying hydrated: http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/can-avoiding-dehydration-prevent-atrial-fibrillation-holiday-heart-syndrome/
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things one can do to ward off electrical problems of the heart and to avoid blood clots and strokes. Other things that are important are to ensure sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Thanks Mellanie! As always your insight is spot on! Great article
I loathe water. I actually don’t really drink much of anything. I’ve figured out that on an average day I consume about 32 ounces of liquids. I weigh far more than 64 lbs. 🙂
I went through a phase a while back where I was drinking about a gallon of water a day. I still didn’t like it, but my trainer convinced me it was necessary. I didn’t feel any different during that time, except that I certainly needed to go to the bathroom more frequently. It’s interesting, but no one in my family drinks much either. I wonder sometimes whether there are differences between people on necessary water intake. I do eat mostly “moist” food – veggies, fruit, etc – and I wonder how much of my water needs are met through that.
I don’t disagree with the recommendation, and I certainly think drinking soda and fake beverages is a bad idea. I have about 1-2 sodas per year. I’ve just never managed to get water intake up and keep it there.
Yes, Sierra, some of your needs can be met with “moist” foods as well. Good point! Have you tried the carbonation trick? It seems to work for quite a few people who have commented!
Does hot climate during summer season affects the amount of water that we should drink everyday?
PPLIC
Yes, if the temperature is over 90 degrees and you are outside, keep drinking! Dehydration and heat stroke can be very dangerous.