For proper metabolism, a normal human body requires about two liters of water. The health benefits of drinking enough water include preventing constipation, maintaining healthy skin, and avoiding pimples. However, drinking too much water, more than the body's requirements can result in water intoxication.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine of the United States determined that an adequate daily fluid intake for men is approximately 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) and for women approximately 11.5 cups (2.7 liters). However, any recommended amount must be adjusted for a variety of factors, health conditions, and nutritional needs. That said, the general rule for water consumption is eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
Hyponatremia is a condition characterized by low sodium levels, which mostly affects endurance athletes and physically active people. This is induced by consuming four liters or more water in a few hours (rather than the entire day), lowering salt levels to unsafe levels. Overhydration, if left untreated, can lead to confusion, muscle weakness, seizures, and, in the worst-case scenario, death.
What are the common factors that may influence water intake?
Everyone should adjust their total fluid intake based on their daily water needs, which is influenced by the following factors:
- Exercise
- Environment
- Hot or humid weather causes people to sweat and become dehydrated, necessitating increased water consumption.
- Health condition
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women require more fluid intake to stay hydrated, with research recommending about 2.4 liters of water during pregnancy and 3.1 liters while breastfeeding.
Why should I drink two liters of water every day?
Water is required for all life processes, such as maintaining blood volume, regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients and waste products, metabolic reactions, and acting as a lubricant for the spine and joints. Therefore, drinking enough water to stay hydrated is critical to keep the body functioning properly.
Water consumption varies with people, however, regularly drinking two liters (68 ounces) each day is highly recommended for healthy individuals. According to research, doing so provides several advantages, such as:
- Alleviates constipation and diarrhea
- May decrease the risk of certain cancers, such as bladder and colorectal cancers
- May decrease the risk of kidney stones
- May improve overall skin health
People can avoid dehydration and its negative effects by determining how much water to drink per day, which is influenced by certain factors, the person’s body weight, and environmental concerns (temperature). Lethargy, dry skin, dizziness, physical deterioration, and even death can be among the side effects of severe dehydration.
QUESTION
Which is one of the few drinks to be considered a superfood? See AnswerWhat are the signs and complications of overhydration?
To avoid hyponatremia symptoms, a person with normal renal function should drink no more than 800 to 1,000 mL (approximately four cups) of water each hour. Dehydration and overhydration have several similar symptoms, such as:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Muscle spasms and cramps
When a person is dehydrated, their urine turns dark yellow, and when a person is adequately hydrated, their urine is lemonade yellow. However, when a person is overly hydrated, it is nearly clear.
Additionally, overhydration may, sometimes, have the following side effects:
- Disrupts electrolyte regulation, resulting in electrolyte imbalance
- May result in low sodium levels in the blood, causing the body's cells to swell and retain fluid
- Can worsen and lengthen the occurrence and severity of overactive bladder symptoms
- Kidneys become unable to eliminate the excess water, causing dilution of sodium in the blood and a chain of biological malfunctions
- Can cause cerebral edema (brain swelling), heart failure, and other organ failures, which can be fatal
- Extremely rare, but deaths from water-drinking contests and overhydration after participating in sports and military training situations have occurred
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World Health Organization. Water Requirements, Impinging Factors, and Recommended Intakes. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutwaterrequir.pdf
WebMD. How Much Water Should I Drink Daily? https://www.webmd.com/diet/how-much-water-to-drink
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Can Drinking Water Help Prevent a Stroke?
Many studies have proven that proper hydration at the time of a stroke is linked to better stroke recovery. It is possible that dehydration causes blood to be thicker. Viscous blood causes the body to retain sodium and increases blood pressure. Drinking enough water regularly prevents dehydration. This may play a role in keeping the blood less viscous, which in turn prevents a stroke.
Can Drinking Water Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Keeping well hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water daily (even more if working in hot and humid conditions) is beneficial for the blood pressure. High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a condition caused by the persistent high pressure of blood against the walls of arteries. It is also called systolic pressure (constantly greater than 139 mmHg) or diastolic pressure (constantly more than 89 mmHg).
Can Drinking Water Stop Kidney Failure?
While drinking more water can help boost kidney function, there is no evidence that suggests that it can prevent the progress of kidney failure.
Can You Flush Out a UTI With Water?
Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are usually advised to drink six to eight glasses (1.5 to 2 liters) of water every day to flush the infection out of the urinary system.
Does Drinking Water Help Diverticulitis?
Yes, drinking water may help resolve diverticulitis. However, the overall management of diverticulitis depends on the extent of the disease. Only hydration may not help in all cases. It is advised to maintain a liquid diet, such as clear liquids or broths, during the first few days of the diverticulitis attack. This is because constipation is a major cause of diverticulitis.Does Drinking Water Flush Nicotine Out of Your System?
Nicotine is water-soluble, so drinking water will help flush out any lingering traces. Water helps flush nicotine and other chemicals out of your body.How Much Water Should You Drink Based on Your Weight?
Generally, you should aim to drink about 64 ounces of water per day. Check out the center below for more medical references on nutrition, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
Hydration Quiz
Do you know how much water you should be drinking on a daily basis? It may not be what you think. Take this quiz to learn how to stay hydrated.
Is Drinking a Lot of Water Good for Your Prostate?
Doctors recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water (or 1.5 to 2 liters) daily. For prostate problems, limit water intake before going to bed at night. This will keep you from waking up at night to urinate repeatedly.Is Drinking Cold Water Bad?
About 60 percent of the body is made up of water. It forms a major part of the blood. The cells and the body cannot function right if the water levels go down. Drinking cold water often causes “cold stress” in the body.
Is Drinking Distilled Water Good or Bad for You?
Distilled water is considered the purest form of water. There are both potential risks and benefits of drinking distilled water.
Is Gripe Water Safe for Newborns?
As gripe water is a supplement and not a medication, it doesn't come under the regulation of the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA), which means that there is no guarantee for the ingredients mentioned on the label.
7 Ways Water Benefits the Body
Drinking water benefits digestion, metabolism, toxin elimination, and other functions. Water promotes weight loss and helps prevent dehydration. Health benefits of hydration include improvements in mood, skin health, and ability to work out.
Water Safety: What's Inside Your Drinking Water?`
What are the benefits of drinking water? How do you keep your drinking water safe and healthy? Learn about the water you drink and possible contaminants like giardia, cryptosporidium, lead, chlorine, and more. Discover how to boil your water in an emergency, and why fluoride in tap water is healthy for teeth.Why Is Gripe Water Banned?
Gripe water is a herbal medication available in the liquid form. It has been effective in treating colic in children.