Our body is made up of 60% water, and everyday we lose portions of it to help our body function the way they should. For this very reason, we must constantly replenish our body’s water supply by consuming water that’s present in most foods and beverages. The question is, how much water should you be drinking?
REGULAR PEOPLE
The answer to the question solely depends on many factors, including age, gender, and lifestyle. People who don’t indulge in many physical activities tend to have lesser need of water intake in contrast to those who revel in an active way of life.
As an example, the nonprofit hospital, CHOC, recommends that children should drink 8 ounce cups of water equal to their age. Mayo Clinic, which is another medical nonprofit organization, also shared the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s recommendation that about 3.7 liters of fluids a day should be drunk by an average healthy male adult. About 2.7 liters a day is recommended for women.
Lifestyle is one huge factor in determining how much water a person should consume. Let’s take a closer look at people with active lifestyles.
ATHLETES
By far, athletes are the most obvious bets when it comes to having an active lifestyle. Their daily activities from consistent pieces of training to casual sports bouts manifest superior habits than of regular people. In the same manner, their fluid intake demands greater focus compared to the normal group.
According to TrueSport, the amount of water that athletes should drink relies on their bodyweight. They advised to drink ounces of water that’s equal to half of their body weight in pounds at the very least. For example, a man who weighs 160 pounds has to drink no less than 80 ounces of water in a day. This goes without saying the consideration of the athletes’ activity levels and their environments’ temperature.
GYM FITNESS ENTHUSIASTS
The gym fitness enthusiasts is another group of people that called for more water drinking. In fact, one of the best practices in gym workouts is to hydrate before, during, and after every session.
Ali Adcock's article for ABC Fitness Solutions suggests to drink 16 ounces of fluid two hours before workout, 10 ounces every 10-20 minutes during workout, and 16-20 ounces of water per pound of body weight lost after the workout.
