We all have our favorite list of beverages. But for most of us, water doesn’t top that list.

In fact, it may not make it on the list at all. That’s too bad because water is crucial for optimal health.

Even if you do drink water regularly, do you know that your daily water intake is sufficient to support the vital systems of the body?

Let’s find out.

What Is the Optimal Daily Water Intake?

It seems like an easy enough question. But the answer isn’t so simple.

Logic would dictate that you just drink water when you’re thirsty, right? And yet, with the influx of soda, juice, coffee, and other beverages, water soon takes a back seat.

So then the direction became to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, and you’d be good to go. As though 64 ounces was some magical number. And drinking 64 ounces of water every day IS a decent goal.

The thing is, though, some people simply don’t need that much. Meanwhile, other folks might require more. So it seems that the amount of water you need each day is personal and dependant on several factors.

Factors That Influence Daily Water Intake

It’s essential to determine the specific number of ounces of water each day you need. To do this, you’ll need to consider several factors.

Gender

The current guidelines issued by the Institute of Medicine recommend that men drink about 13 cups of fluid each day. For women, they recommend 9 cups.

But this is just a starting point.

Pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding have different requirements. Pregnant women should drink about 10 cups of fluids, and those who are breastfeeding need closer to 13 cups each day.

Environment

That nine or thirteen cup recommendation will vary depending on where you are. If you’re at a higher altitude, you may need more. And if the weather is hot or humid, you will likely sweat out fluids that you’ll need to replace. Speaking of sweating…

Activity

One occasion where most people do enjoy water is during and after a sweaty workout. As the body sweats, it intuitively drives thirst to replace those fluids. Intense exercise that lasts more than an hour will definitely boost your daily water intake requirements.

Diet

If you get your recommended daily intake of water but eat a lot of salty foods, then you’ll need more water. On the other hand, there are plenty of water-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, fish, and eggs. So if your diet is loaded with these, you may not need as much water.

Health Issues

Any time you’re running a fever, it’s important to hydrate. Your body also loses fluids when you have an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea.

Certain urinary conditions will also require more fluid. Meanwhile, conditions such as heart failure or a particular type of kidney disease will require you to limit your fluid intake.

Are You Getting Enough Water?

As you can see, it’s tough to calculate your daily water intake. The best wisdom? If you’re thirsty, drink some water!

One way to get more enjoyment out of drinking water is to get custom labels on your bottled water. Contact us today to find out how.