How Much Water Should I Drink Each Day?

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By SOKCGOLD

Water is essential to our good health. Make sure you get the right amount each day.
Water is essential to our good health. Make sure you get the right amount each day.

How much water should I drink daily?

After all these years, it seems that this question still confuses a lot of people. We all know that water is essential to our body's good health and we want to make sure that we are getting enough. But how much water does your body require on a daily basis? While there is no simple answer that fits all people, there are several guidelines that can help you to make sure you drink a sufficient amount of water each day.

Is the "Eight Eight-Ounce Glass Rule" the Right Amount of Water to Drink?

Although there isn't any scientific evidence to back up the "8 by 8" rule, it isn't too far off the mark. 64 ounces of water is actually just a little lower than the Institute of Medicine's daily water intake recommendations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men get about 125 ounces of water each day and that women consume about 91 ounces. However, they note that you get an average of 20 percent of your daily water intake from the foods that you eat, so the real number for water you should be drinking each day is 100 ounces for men and 73 ounces for women. Following the "8 by 8" rule would leave the average man 36 ounces short and the average woman short by about 8 ounces.

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Does All of My Daily Intake Have to Come From Water?

As mentioned earlier, since 20% of your water intake is coming from the foods you eat, you can see that the key is to get your daily allowance of water from one source or another. So other beverages like beer, wine, soda, coffee and tea can all help to contribute to your daily water intake. However, it is better to try to get the majority of your fluid intake from water as it is non-calorie, inexpensive and readily available.

Should I Worry About My Daily Water Intake?

While it is good to be concerned about the amount of water you drink each day, it generally shouldn't be an over-riding concern. As the Institute of Medicine's report shows, most people are getting ample water using nothing more than thirst as their guide. If you are concerned that you don't get enough water each day, track what you drink - from all sources - for a few days and see how you are doing. If you find there is a lack, you can then work to correct it.

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