How much water should you drink a day? You probably know that it's important to drink plenty of fluids in warmer temperatures. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says. Unfortunately, many of us aren't getting enough to drink, especially older adults. Older people don't sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they're on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic.
Hydration is critical for all our cells, kidneys, and liver need to function at peak capacity so you will efficiently metabolize fat and create the environment necessary to build lean tone muscle. Water requirements vary greatly from person to person. The climate in which we live, our activity level, and our diet influence our need for water.
Water keeps every system in the body functioning properly, which includes carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells, flushing bacteria from your bladder, aides in digestion, helps prevent constipation, helps normalize blood pressure, cushioning joints, protecting organs and tissues, regulating body temperatures & helps in maintaining electrolyte (sodium) balance.
How to calculate how much water you should drink a day for both health and weight loss benefits.
The first step to knowing how much water to drink every day is to know your weight. The amount of water a person should drink varies on their weight, which makes sense because the more someone weighs the more water they need to drink. A 200 pound man and 100 pound woman require different amounts of water every day.
Weigh yourself ……..then multiply your weight by 2/3 to determine how much water to drink daily. For example...............if you weighed 175 pounds you would multiply that by 2/3 and learn you should be drinking about 117 ounces of water every day.
To help keep you hydrated, drink fluids gradually, throughout the day.
A lot of people don’t like the taste of water, Maybe try room temperature or with ice.
An easy way to do this is to have a drink at each meal, as well as socially. You can also get fluids from water-rich foods, such as salads, fruit, and applesauce!
Find creative healthy ways to stay hydrated, maybe infuse your water with fruit? Oranges and lemons & cucumbers are always a nice addition. Below is my favorite go to recipe!
Raspberry and Lemon Infused Water Recipe
Ingredients: 2 quarts of water
1 cup fresh Raspberries
3 Lemon slices
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large glass carafe or pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours. Strain before serving.