There is much written on this topic and according to the majority of the health gurus, you should drink at least ½ oz of clean fresh water for each pound of body weight. Say you weigh 145 lbs, that means you need to drink 72 ounces of water a day. That is 9 8oz glasses of water, in addition to any tea or coffee that you drink.
But, here is an excerpt with a slightly different slant from an article written by Dr. Mercola with Rachael Droege, May 05, 2004 entitled Do You Really Need Eight Glasses of Water a Day?
After examining the literature and reasons for the general rule of thumb eight, 8oz glass of water per day, Dr. Mercola writes:
“I was delighted to read in my Family Practice Newspaper that an Institute of Medicine Panel rejected the conventional wisdom that people need to drink eight glasses of water a day and concluded that on a daily basis people get enough water from normal drinking behavior, such as drinking beverages at meals and in other social situations, and by letting their thirst guide them.
This is not to say that getting enough water isn’t important. We can exist without food for months, but without water we can only survive for a few days. Your body is made up mostly of water, which:
- Is essential for digestion, nutrient absorption and elimination
- Aids circulation
- Helps control the body's temperature
- Lubricates and cushions joints
- Keeps the skin healthy
- Helps remove toxins from your body
Every day you lose water from the body through urine and sweat, and this fluid needs to be replenished. However, your body has come equipped with a mechanism that tells you when you need to replenish your supply--it’s called thirst!
Let Your Thirst be Your Guide
When your body begins to lose from 1 percent to 2 percent of its total water, your thirst mechanism lets you know that it’s time to drink some water. If you are healthy, then drinking whenever you feel thirsty should be an adequate guide of how much water you need. You can confirm whether you are drinking enough water by looking at the color of your urine which should be light, pale color.
Of course, if it’s hot outside or you are engaged in exercise or other vigorous activity, you will require more water than normal so be sure to stay well hydrated. Additionally, as we grow older our thirst mechanism works less efficiently so older adults will want to be sure to drink water regularly.
