If you’re not staying hydrated, you might be doing long-term damage to your health. Hydration is crucial for brain health, energy levels, overall fitness, and more. The benefits of staying hydrated include headache relief, weight loss, better skin, kidney stone prevention, and higher energy levels (among others).
Everyone hears the classic advice that you need to drink eight glasses of water per day as the best way to stay hydrated, but is this really true?
Keep reading to learn all about how much water you need to keep yourself hydrated (and a few tips for how to stay hydrated).
The Basics
So is eight cups of water enough?
Eight cups of water are enough for the average person to function, but the true amount of water that you need is dependant on your weight (among other factors that we’ll discuss later).
You want to aim for at least a half-ounce of water for each pound that you weigh. This means that for someone who weighs 160 lbs, you’d need to drink 10 to 20 cups of water per day (because a cup is 8 ounces).
Keep in mind that “water” doesn’t have to be plain water. Sports drinks, tea, juice, and even hydrating fruits (like watermelon) all contribute to your water intake. Even coffee contributes (despite the myth that it’s too much of a diuretic).
Other Factors That Influence Hydration Needs
While this rule is appropriate for most people, there are other factors that contribute to how much water you’ll need in a day.
If you take certain medications, you may need to drink more water. Some medications are diuretics and others will just make you feel more thirsty, even if you are drinking enough.
Certain illnesses will require you to drink more (or less) water. Talk to your doctor about your ideal water intake if you have an illness.
If you exercise frequently, you’ll need more water. You lose water while you sweat and exert yourself. You may also require more electrolytes.
Tips for Staying Hydrated
So how do you stay hydrated when you can’t often remember to drink enough water?
For one, don’t forget your lips! Choose the best lip balm for dry lips for a deeply moisturized, plush pout.
Secondly, consider purified water. You can use a water filter from supremewatersales.com to make your water taste fresher, which may influence you to drink more of it.
If you’re someone who “hates the taste of water,” consider adding flavor to your water with flavor packets, lemon, or frozen fruit. You can also drink other flavored liquids.
Eat watermelon. Watermelon is 92% water.
Start your day with a cup of water before you even make your morning cup of coffee. This will set your day off on the right track.
Keep a reusable water bottle with you and mark each cup so you know that you’re drinking enough throughout the day. If you’re not drinking enough, this will let you know where you need to improve.
Are You Hydrated Enough?
Staying hydrated is crucial. If you’re not drinking enough water, you may be putting your health in danger. Now that you know, “why is it important to stay hydrated,” use our guide (and our tips) to start improving your overall hydration levels today.
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