The amount of water you should drink daily varies depending on factors like age, sex, weight, activity level, climate, and health status. However, general guidelines are as follows:
- For most adult women, about 2.7 liters (2700 ml) of total water daily is recommended, including water from all beverages and food
- For most adult men, about 3.7 liters (3700 ml) of total water daily is recommended
- The UK NHS suggests drinking about 1.9 liters (1900 ml) of fluids daily, roughly 6 to 8 glasses, which includes water from food and other drinks
- Another practical guideline is to drink about 35 ml of water per kilogram of body weight. For example, a 72 kg person should aim for around 2.5 liters (2500 ml) daily, while an 85 kg person should aim for about 3 liters (3000 ml)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women need additional water, generally about 300-700 ml more per day than non-pregnant women
It's important to adjust your intake based on your environment (hot or humid climates require more), physical activity (exercise increases water needs), and health conditions (fever, infections, or medications like diuretics can increase needs)
. The traditional "8 glasses (about 2 liters) per day" rule is a rough estimate and may not suit everyone, as individual needs vary widely
. A good practical indicator is to drink enough so that your urine is pale yellow, signaling proper hydration
. In summary, aiming for about 2.5 to 3.7 liters (2500 to 3700 ml) of total water daily, adjusted for your personal factors, is a sound guideline.
