How Much Water Should You Actually Be Drinking?

Water is a crucial part of living a healthy life. It helps remove toxins from our bodies, assists in graceful aging, and helps keep our energy levels up. There are so many benefits of drinking enough water, it’s hard to make an argument for not getting enough!

There are many opinions and recommendations as to how much water you should drink per day. The most common recommendation is to drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day, but everyone should tune in to their own body to see if that number is actually right for them. The eight of 8 is a good place to start regardless and makes for a good goal to keep in mind when drinking water. There are a lot of different factors that determine the right amount of water for you, these things include weight, activity level, and the climate you are in. Since all of these things fluctuate from time to time, so should your water intake. We lose water throughout the day in a variety of ways, most of it leaves our bodies through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements. Drinking water through the day will help you keep these body functions working in a healthy manner.

The amount of water you get per day does not have to come from drinking water alone. It is estimated that we get about 20% of our daily water intake from the food we eat. There are many fruits and vegetables that are made up of 80% or more water. These foods, such as watermelon, zucchini, berries, and peppers, may even help promote weight loss. This is likely because the water they contain helps you feel full longer, stopping you from overeating.

A misconception about water intake is that it does not include other beverages, but that should not be the case. The total number of beverages you drink gets added to your daily water tally. But, be careful about what you are drinking. A lot of packaged beverages are surprisingly high in calories and sugar, so it may be best to dilute them with some water. Our bodies process the water found in beverages the same as it does plain water, so it counts towards your daily goal.

One way to calculate your personal recommended water intake is to use a tool like Camelbak’s Hydration Calculator. It asks you a few quick questions, then tells you the amount of water you should be drinking per day.

Eat Smarter wants to help you get enough water per day, so here are some of our favorite ways to get more water throughout the day:

1. Keep a reusable water bottle with you, this way you will always have water handy and can sip it throughout the day.
2. Use a hydration app such as Waterlogged, which helps you track your water intake and sends you reminders to drink more water throughout the day.
3. Snack on foods with a high water content, such as grapefruit, pineapple, and radishes.
4. Add fruit to your water to give it a little extra flavor! Some of our favorite fruits to add include lemon, cucumber, and strawberries. (Tip: put the tops of your strawberries in water for a sweet drink that also cuts down on kitchen waste.)

Water is an essential part of staying healthy, it helps to energize our bodies, keeps our skin happy and healthy, and keeps our vital body functions working properly. Getting enough water is an easy step towards a healthier you!