We guess all people know that our bodies consist mainly of water. It takes about 60% on average. This indicator may change according to age or some health conditions. It may vary between 45% and 60%. Nonetheless, these indicators show how important it is for us to drink water. Many people suffer from various ailments and health deviations because they don’t consume enough water. How much water should you drink a day? Our informative guide sheds the necessary light on this vital aspect.
How Much Water Should I Drink?
So, how many liters of water a day? This question has varied answers. A lot depends on the age, gender, and definite health conditions of humans, such as pregnancy or definite ailments. Here are the recommended doses of water:
- 1 – 3 years – 32 ounces
- 4 – 8 years – 40 ounces
- 9 – 13 years – 56 – 64 ounces
- 14 –18 years – 64 – 88 ounces
- Men, aged 19+ – 104 ounces
- Women aged 19+ – 72 ounces
- Pregnant women – 80 ounces
- Breastfeeding women – 104 ounces
After you find out how much water to drink a day, we can go to the reasons why it must be consumed in such quantities.
Reasons to Drink Water
We have already mentioned that water is crucial for us because humans consist of 60% of water. What are other reasons that may not be that obvious? Make allowances for them here below:
- Lubrication joints. Thanks to water, we can lubricate our joints and thus avoid problems with their functioning, flexibility, etc.
- Formation of saliva and mucus. Water helps to form our saliva and mucus. Saliva plays one of the most important roles in digesting food. As soon as it gets into our mouth, the digestion process starts over there and saliva assists. It also helps to keep the mouth clean and avoid tooth decay.
- Oxygen transportation. Our blood is about 90% of water. So, it helps to transport oxygen throughout our body and all its systems.
- Improvement of skin health. If a person is hydrated, the skin is much healthier. When you are dehydrated, you may suffer from various skin illnesses.
- Maintenance of brain function. We must remain hydrated due to the control of brain function as well. The lack of water slows down our thinking and a lot of processes with it. Dehydration likewise negatively impacts the production of neurotransmitters (natural chemicals) that regulate all kinds of functions and responses in our body – speaking, thinking, moving, memorizing, etc.
- Regulation of body temperature. Another good reason to drink enough water is the chance to regulate body temperature. For example, our body cools down when we sweat. In case we don’t have enough water in the body, we cannot resist heat that easily.
- Improved digestion. As we’ve mentioned above, it helps to digest food faster and with better quality. In case we are dehydrated, our stomach has to spend more time and energy to digest food. It may lead to various digestive deviations, such as constipation, an increase in acid levels, etc.
- Cleansing of the body. Another significant benefit of remaining hydrated is cleansing our bodies from different wastes. Various toxins and other unhealthy elements get out via sweating, urination, etc.
- Improvement of blood pressure. One of the little-known facts about water is its assistance in regulating blood pressure levels. Our blood gets thicker when we’re dehydrated. As a result, we may suffer from increased pressure.
- Good for airways. Our airways need to be hydrated. Otherwise, people may worsen the symptoms of asthma or definite allergies (if they have them).
- Prevention of kidney damage. Our kidneys require enough levels of water to function normally. Otherwise, there may appear kidney stones and some other severe health deviations.
- Assistance with weight loss. Multiple research proved that staying hydrated helps people reduce weight and curb hunger cravings. It gives us the feeling of a full stomach.
How much water should you drink daily? You need to check our list again to find the indications that suit your age, gender, or health state. Yet, you should know that there is no universal quantity of water we should consume every day. It’s always individual. Be sure you stay hydrated every day to avoid possible health issues!