How Much Water Should I Drink in a Day?

When feeling dehydrated, you might be asking yourself, “how much water should I drink a day again?” This is a really simple question that does not have an easy answer. Water is very important to the body. 60 percent of the body is made of water.

by Bharat Kothakota , MD MPH

When feeling dehydrated, you might be asking yourself, "how much water should I drink a day again?" This is a really simple question that does not have an easy answer. Water is very important to the body. 60 percent of the body is made of water. If you want to stay healthy and to avoid a host of health conditions, you have to ensure that you are taking plenty of water every single day. You should drink at least 2 liters or 8-ounce glasses of water every day. You should drink water even when you are not thirsty. Here are the top reasons why you should drink plenty of water every day:

1. IT WILL HELP YOU PREVENT FATIGUE

If you always feel tired with obvious reasons, chances are that you are not drinking enough water. Not drinking enough water makes your body inefficient. Fatigue is one of the signs that you are dehydrated. Drinking enough water can help to prevent regular fatigue, especially in the sun or heat. Adequate water in the body helps you to ensure that there is high blood volume in your body at all times. Maintaining high blood volume in your body helps to ensure that oxygenated blood is transferred efficiently to all parts of your body. When adequate oxygen gets to all parts of your body, all your organs will function effectively.

2. WATER HELPS TO KEEP YOU IN A GOOD MOOD

Studies have show that even mild dehydration can have a significant effect on your mood. Dehydration can inhibit your ability to think. You may not perform as well as you would want to in your work when your mood is constantly affected by dehydration. Any time you start feeling like you are in a bad mood, you should go and drink some water. You should also check your urine constantly to know whether you are well hydrated or not. The lighter the color of your urine, the higher the level of hydration.

3. WATER HELPS IN DIGESTION AND IT HELPS TO PREVENT CONSTIPATION

Water helps to make your digestive system work more efficient. You will be able to digest food more efficiently and to prevent constipation when you drink enough water. When you are not well hydrated, your colon will pull water from your stool leading to constipation. Water will always help you ensure that that the food in your digestive system is broken down efficiently and that there is regular bowel movement. Warm water is the best when you want to improve digestion.

4. HELPS TO FLUSH OUT TOXIC SUBSTANCES

There are many toxic substances that get into the body. Water is an excellent detoxifier. You will be able to get rid of toxic substances in your body through urine and sweat. Water promotes kidney function and reduce the chances of developing kidney stones. This is because it dilutes the minerals that contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

5. AIDS IN WEIGHT LOSS

There are thousands of people all over the world struggling with the weight problem. If you want to lose weight effectively, you have no choice other than drinking plenty of water every day. Many studies have shown that drinking water before meals helps to suppress appetite to prevent you from overeating. This is because the water fills up the space in your stomach, something that prevents you from eating a lot of food. Water also helps to increase the rate of metabolism. When the rate at which your body burns fat increases, you will definitely be able to lose weight faster. Water is the best fluid that you should take whenever you feel thirsty when you want to lose weight. Unlike soda, alcohol and other drinks, water has zero calories.

6. WATER HELPS TO KEEP THE SKIN LOOKING GOOD

If you want to have skin that looks good, you must drink plenty of water every day. The skin contains a lot of water. The skin is an effective barrier that protects internal organs. Dehydration will make your skin look dry and wrinkled. You may look older if you are a person who does not drink adequate water in a daily basis.

Always ensure that you body is well hydrated at all times. Other fluids also help to hydrate the body. Foods that have high water content also help to hydrate the body.