Should You Drink Eight Ounces of Water Daily?

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We hear it all the time. We should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. EHC makes an attempt to explore the facts and myth behind this eight-by-eight rule. It is important to drink water according to your lifestyle rather than follow the 8-glass water rule, say nutritionists.

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Water is your body’s principal chemical component and a natural detoxifier but not many are aware about how much water should we ideally drink every day. Moreover, the popular 8 by 8 rule which says that one should drink eight glasses, each consisting of eight ounce of water, may not suit every individual. While the general belief is to drink eight to 10 glasses of water, it is advisable to drink 12 to 15 glasses of fluids which includes water, tea, buttermilk, soup, etc. This would amount to an intake of around 2.5 liters of fluids every day.

One’s lifestyle plays an important role in deciding the amount of water that one should consume. If you have a sedentary lifestyle and work in an air-conditioned environment where there is no scope for water loss via sweat, drinking more than 2 to 2.5 liters of water is not advisable. It will end up accumulating in your kidney and cause edema. For moderate workers like salespersons, who are required to do physical activity, it is important to drink around three liters of water.

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Seasonal Changes

Athletes, military recruits, or any one force to work outside during the hot summer time may require more fluids than generally recommended. So, it is necessary to change water consumption habits with the change in seasons, and obviously it is important to keep oneself hydrated during summers. If you do not suffer from diabetes or blood pressure, you can have electrolyte or glucose water or drink lemonade. It is not only refreshing but also increases your energy levels. Moreover, it is important to drink maximum amount in the morning. After waking up, it is important to drink around two to four glasses of water within the early part of the day. You could also add some amount of lemon, honey and cinnamon in it.

Points to Remember

• Drink around two to four glasses of water (roughly amounting to 800 ml) after waking up.
• If you work in an air conditioned environment and follow a sedentary lifestyle, do not drink more than 2 to 2.5 liters of water per day.
• For moderate workers, for instance salespersons, it is important to drink around 3 liters of water.
• During summers, keep yourself hydrated by drinking water at regular intervals. If you don’t suffer from diabetes or blood pressure, having electrolyte or glucose water is also advisable.

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Water & Weight Control

We all have heard this advice a million times. Drink 8 to 10 glass of water a day. Experts say that if you are overweight or tend to get most of your calories from processed and salty food, 8 to 10 glasses of water could actually help you reduce your weight.

Water could lower your BMI. If you drink 8 to 10 glass of water every day, you will end up eating less and also drink fewer calorie-laden beverages. Drinking about 500 ml of water before meal can cut the calories and help in losing weight and as a result lower body mass index (BMI). Water helps in burning fat. You can burn about 50 per cent more fat after drinking water compared with a higher calorie beverage.

Water helps you play your sports better. Sweating away just 2 percent of your body’s water content affects the performance of a sportsperson to a great extent. Drinking enough water can improve your game and save you from the risk of dehydration.

Water can fight hangovers. Being adequately hydrated is the best way not to feel lousy and grouchy after a late night party. Drink a couple of glasses of water hours before the event. Even when you are flying a long distance flight, staying hydrated helps you fight hangover.

Most of us healthy folks get enough water in the foods and liquids we consume which includes any liquid we drink. Our kidneys work to perfectly balance and regulate our water requirements so that we take in and retain as much fluid as we need. Healthy people can let thirst be their guide to their fluid requirements.

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Image courtesy: womentribe.com , beautyheaven.com.au