We all know that water is our body’s principal chemical component which makes up to 60% of the body mass weight. Each and every part of human body relies on water for optimal functionality. All the organs, cells and tissues need water to work properly and that makes water crucial for survival. Why water is so important is not hard to understand as it serves a wide range of purposes inside human body. Key responsibilities which water holds are regulating our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration, acting as a building material for cells, metabolizing various nutrients such as carbohydrates and protein and transporting them to blood stream, and flushing waste that our body produces through urination and helping in bowel movements. Water also serves a vital purpose which is acting as a shock absorber for brain. Studies show that 73% of brain and heart composition comprises of water. Apart from all above mentioned purposes water forms up saliva in our mouth which helps us to chew food so it can be easily digested by our stomach. Water also acts as a lubricant for joints and protects our bones from wear and tear from motor activity.
The unique dissolving ability of water and multidimensional purposes it serves also justifies the existence of ample water supply on our planet. Cells which are the basic unit of any form of life on Earth are composed of water so much so that it is the most abundant molecule contributing to almost 70% of cell’s composition.
How much water in a day is a must? The amount of water an individual may need to intake in a day depends on many varying factors so there is no standard rule to it. Our body lose water every day through breath, perspiration and urine. The amount of water utilized by our body is unique to every single person as our bodies function differently from each other. One thing is clear that every single one of us needs to replenish water supply in our body to live. So how much does an average, healthy adult need?
The US “National Centre for Biotechnology Information” (NCBI) published an online report in 2018 which summarized that despite numerous efforts to develop methodology, to determine the daily water requirements of children, women, men and older adults, verifiable research work has failed to provide definitive answer to this question. This repot further stated that due to complexity of water regulatory systems in human body and inter- individual differences in body functioning behaviors, a general consensus regarding the daily water requirements has not been reached till date.
In another online article which was published by “Harvard Health Publishing” under the banner of Harvard Medical School in September 2016 and last updated on 25th March 2020, according to Dr.Seifter there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much water an individual should drink in a day. And even considering what kind of physical activity an individual does throughout the day, average water intake for a healthy person cannot be determined since even healthy individuals sweat differently along with differences in their other bodily functions.
A widely followed guideline which is generally accepted and also recommended by fitness and health professionals is to drink at least 8 glasses of water in a day. As there is no standard rule on how much water one should drink, you have to decide it for yourself considering how your body demands water in a day. You might need to modify your water intake value depending on factors such as exercise, environment and over-all health. Individuals who have an exercise oriented daily routine sweat a lot compared to those who are not into exercise. Our body sweats heavily during workouts so it is always better to drink more water to cover that extra loss of water. It is also a good practice to drink water before, during and after a workout as water helps our body bear extra exertion by providing energy to muscles.Moreover, your environment also impacts you water intake routine. If you live in a location which has hot and humid weather or in an area which is at high altitude, you are more likely to get dehydrated and your body will require more than normal fluids. Your over-all health also determines how much water your body requires. It is recommended to consult your doctor on water intake especially if you have fever, vomiting or diarrhea.
Drinking water is not the only source of keeping your body hydrated. As stated earlier that most of the foods that we eat also has significant amount of water content. Fruits can be a great way to keep your body fluids maintained. Organic juices, beverages, milk and herbal teas are also sources which provide water to our body.
Determining whether you are drinking enough water to fulfill your body’s demand or not, is not hard. If you do not feel thirsty times and again in a specific day, it indicates that your water intake levels are ok. Another indicator which indicates water levels in the body is the color of your urine. Having white or pale yellow colored urine is an indication that you are drinking adequate amount of water. As long as you are not feeling anything unusual, drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water at the minimum is the best guideline to follow.