So, does it really matter if I drink enough water? What happens if I don’t drink enough water? How much water is enough?

These are common questions people have before they actually “get to know” water. These are also questions that don’t always bother an individual, even though water is one of the reasons we are alive today. A good way to understand the importance of water is to consider the fact that hydrogen is the number one atom in the universe, and oxygen is the number two (H2O), which means water is the most common “ingredient” for all of us.

In this article, we will delve deep into the importance of water for the human body.

Before we answer the main question “how much water should we be drinking,” we have to answer some basic questions to ensure we completely understand how the human body works. For example, why do we need water? How much water is in our bodies?

By the end of this, you will be ready to answer:

• What is water?
• Why do we need water?
• How much water is in our bodies?
• How much water do we need?
• How to monitor and adjust water intake?

 

What is water?

Water is an inorganic compound characterized by the chemical formula H2O. This substance is transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless. It stands as the primary component of Earth’s hydrosphere and constitutes the fluids within all known living organisms, serving as a solvent. Although water does not supply food, energy, or organic micronutrients, it remains indispensable for various life forms. Its molecular structure, denoted as H2O, signifies that each molecule consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, interconnected by covalent bonds. The term “water” specifically refers to the liquid state of H2O under standard temperature and pressure conditions.

If you would like to know more about water, click the link below:

 

Why do we need water?

• Water is vital for life. The human body consists of 60% water. That means that a person weighing 100 kg would have 60 kg of water.
• A deficit of fluids greater than 8% can result in death. Meaning that it is possible to think you have been losing weight if you are on a strict exercise plan, where in fact, you might just be loosing fluids instead, but this is another discussion. However, dehydration can cause various signs and symptoms before this critical stage is reached (Baron et al., 2014).
• In general, without water, our body cannot complete major and minor mechanisms. In simple words, our bodies cannot function.

So, what is optimum hydration?

To have a clear understanding of how much water we need, let’s first set an example of two humans and their daily water adequate intake (AI). One human weighs 200 kg, exercises 2 hours a day, is very social, is mostly on the roads, in the heat, or the cold, and all in all, is very active. On the other hand, you have a human who weighs 200 kg, is in the house all day not moving quite enough, does not exercise, is not so social, and is in an environment of a stable temperature, ideal for the body to be at ease. The first human will run, lift, sweat, speak, and be in constant motion, whereas the second human will sit still, not sweat, not speak, and will most probably sit on a couch and do very little things. Would these two people need the same amount of water? Is there a one-size-fits-all formula? Demands differ per person. Even if these two humans had the same daily activities and the same metabolism, their water AI might still differ, as external factors have a significant role too. This would be the climate. Now that we know that in some cases, water AI varies significantly, which affects optimum hydration from person to person and highlights that there is no one-size-fits-all formula, let’s answer the question.

 

How much water do we need?

The optimal amount of water we need is completely relevant due to many factors. Consequently, AI of water is the best measure of intake. To understand how much water we actually need, we first have to understand our needs. Making estimations and providing you with an average amount of water intake for the average person is not what suits you. Consider the pinpoints below as they will provide you with significant assistance.

 

What are the factors that differentiate our water AI needs?

• Environmental conditions (Popkin et al., 2010)
• Individual physical activity (Popkin et al., 2010)
• Metabolism (Popkin et al., 2010)
• Diet (Baker et al., 2022)
• Sweat rate (Baker et al., 2022)

So how much water do we actually need? It is hard to answer precisely as demands differ. There is no one-size-fits-all formula; therefore, optimum water intake differs between individuals and circumstances (Popkin et al., 2010)(Baker et al., 2022)(Baron et al., 2014). It is easy to consider everyone’s needs as one, but think about the example above. It is just not right.

It is also impossible to provide you with information on the optimum amount of water you should be consuming day-to-day. But if you are looking for ways to balance your water inputs and outputs, make sure you check “how to monitor and adjust your water intake” as it will provide you with educational information on how to understand your needs and replenish your fluids accordingly. It is also necessary to know that overflowing your body with fluids will also do you harm. So be mindful and act consciously. What we have to rely on are the facts that:

• The state of hydration is determined by the balance between water inputs and outputs.
• If there is an excessive loss of water or insufficient intake of water, it leads to dehydration (Baron et al., 2014)
• The human body relies on water for various vital functions, and without proper hydration, several negative effects can occur. Read about our solution to that crucial matter for a better lifestyle: “how to monitor and adjust water intake”

We hope this has been a source of education for your better understanding of the human body regarding the everlasting question of ”How much water should I drink,” which has the only true answer that there is no one-size-fits-all formula.

If you would like to learn more about the effects of dehydration, have a read through ” the effects of hypohydration on the body’s cosmos.”