Every woman’s magazine, nutritionist, health guru or personal trainer harps on about the importance of water. 2 liters a day, 8 cups a day – the message is water is important. Why is that so and how much water daily is enough for your body to function at its optimum?

Human body weight is compromised out of 50 – 70% water. Every organ in the body, every bodily system needs the water to function normally. If you count in that an average person looses approximately 1 and a half liter of water daily through urine movements and you add perspiration, bowel movements and breath, it adds up to approximately 2 and a half liters of liquid lost. It is necessary to replenish the body’s water supply, if you fail to do so you might suffer from dehydration with symptoms like headaches and migraines, loss of concentration, lightheadedness and tiredness. It can lead to kidney stones and constipation, so it is safe to say our general well-being depends heavily on how much water we drink.

The water our bodies need is obtained from 3 sources:

* From drinking water, fruit juices or other types of beverages
* From food sources like fruits and vegetables
* From by product of chemical reactions within the body itself

It is estimated that an average adult person needs somewhere around 2 and a half liters of water a day and that is without the water we get with meals and our fruit and vegetables. That is by far the most effective way to replace water lost via bodily fluids. For men on average it should be around 3 liters and for women around 2.2 liters. However other factors have to be considered as well.

If you exercise regularly you should up your daily intake of water as your body loose more water through increased perspiration. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need more water to avoid dehydration. Where you live is an additional factor as warmer and hot and humid climates also increase perspiration, while higher altitudes may lead to increased daily urination. If you suffer from some type of health condition or a disease there might even be a need to replenish yourself with some type of a rehydrating solution.

It does not take much to get dehydrated, thirst is a sign that the body needs its fluids ASAP; it might be a bit too late already. So it is important to drink during the meals as well as in between. Regular exercise activities should be accompanied by drinking lots of fluids to restore body’s water levels. It might take a while to get used to it, however your body will be grateful.