Today, August 25th is National Water Monitoring Day where we reflect upon the importance of measuring our daily water intake. We have frequently been told that drinking the “proper” amount of water per day is very important for our health. And it is true that hydration is critically important for the body to function optimally and essential for your overall health. Yet, despite however many times we are told that water intake is important, a recent large scale study demonstrated that 75% of participants experiencing chronic dehydration – not meeting their daily needs for water intake. Your body will signal you to drink (or eat your water) when you’ve lost around 2%-3% of your water content. But even before you feel thirsty, you will begin to lose mental performance and physical coordination—typically at around 1% dehydration. A common issue comes down to how time consuming it can be to monitor and track how much water we are actually consuming without having to put in extra time we don’t have.
Daily Amount of Water Intake
How much water should a person drink each day? Again, we are typically told to drink “8 glasses a day” but this adage is outdated and is too general for a diverse population. Newer studies have confirmed that Individual water needs depend on many factors, including your health, what medications you take (some are dehydrating), the quantity & intensity of your exercise and finally, where you live. In general, The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:
About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men
About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
Keep in mind, these recommendations include fluids from water, other beverages and food. On average, 20% of a person’s daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks.
Technology to the Rescue
Fortunately, there are well-designed and functional short-cuts for monitoring water intake. Those include apps that can automatically remind you to consume water – FitTrack & Water Reminder – Daily Tracker from VGFIT LLCare two great examples.
Get Started with Our Daily Water Intake Calculator
To learn more about how much water you personally need to drink a day, take our quiz and find out your ideal level of hydration. You might be surprised!
- Survey of 3003 Americans, Nutrition Information Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center (April 14, 1998).