How Much Water Should I Drink In A Day?

It looks like a relatively simple question. But in reality, “How much water should I drink in a day?” is a loaded question with many variables affecting the final answer. Health experts used to recommend that adults drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water, or 64 total ounces, each day. 
According to Medical News Today, the current average total water intake recommended for men is about 130 ounces, and for women, about 95 ounces. Pregnant women should add 10 ounces, and breastfeeding women should add 23-37 ounces each day.
Overall, that is still a pretty simple recommendation for water intake, as there are many factors to consider when determining the right amount to drink each day.

Calculating How Much Water to Drink in a Day

Weight is the first variable when determining how much water to drink in a day. A good rule of thumb for determining how much water to drink based on weight is to divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces of water daily. 

Example for a 200-pound person:

200 pounds / 2 = 100 ounces of water per day
The amount of exercise a person does each day should also be factored into how much water they should consume. For every 30 minutes of exercise, add another 12 ounces of water. 

Example for the same 200-pound person working out 90 minutes:

200 pounds / 2 = 100 ounces of water per day
100 + (90 minutes exercise / 30 minutes X 12 ounces) = 136 ounces of water per day

Key Considerations

There are other factors to consider when thinking about how much water a person should consume in a day.

• Age – As we age, our kidneys don’t conserve water like they did when we were younger. Our thirst may not match the need for fluid intake.
• Weight – In the example above, a 200-pound person needs about 100 ounces of water each day, but a person who weighs 250 pounds would need 125 ounces per day. A more petite person weighing 150 pounds would need about 75 ounces of water daily.
• Activity Levels – The more you exercise and sweat, the more water you need.
• Climate – People in warmer climates tend to sweat more. To avoid dehydration, they must increase their water intake to replace what is lost through sweating.
• Overall Health – When we are sick, our bodies need more fluids. Fever, vomiting, and diarrhea can all lead to water loss.

When you’re thirsty, be sure to drink some water. Thirst can be a sign of dehydration, so listening to your body is important. Healthline reports that a helpful sign you are drinking enough is having pale or clear urine. If your urine is dark yellow, it can be another sign of dehydration, and you need to increase your water consumption.

Does All of My Water Intake Need to Come from Plain Water?

No, you do not need to drink all your daily water intake from plain water. Water is in many foods we eat, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also get water from other beverages like coffee, tea, milk, soda, and more. Sipping water throughout the day, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and limiting sugary beverages will go a long way in ensuring you are taking in enough water and staying well-hydrated.

Great Tasting Water at Home Makes it Easier to Drink More!

Having great-tasting water right at home makes it easier to drink more water and take great-tasting water with you on the go. Contact your local authorized Evolve dealer today and learn more about the UltroWater® and ClearFlo® reverse osmosis drinking water systems.