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What is the recommended amount of daily water intake/ consumption for an adult?

Updated on January 17, 2016

Drink lots of water, that's what I always hear!

"Drink lots of water", I always hear this message when people are talking about things like dieting, cleansing your system out, relieving dry skin and so on .

Then I heard this story awhile ago about a young lady that died from the result of drinking too much water in too short of a time period.

I'm not a big water drinker, however, while I was pregnant I seemed to "crave" water and crushed ice like crazy. I didn't want to die from it though, nor due damage to my unborn child, so off I go to do some research before I asked my doctor as I didn't want to appear too unintelligent! The whole time thinking- I wonder how we made it as kids? We didn't have much else too drink around my house but water and usually in the summer time that water came from the garden hose!

So my first research was done on the dangers of drinking "too much water" . I found out that if you drink too much water in too short of time it is very dangrous and , yes, it can kill you. "Too much water" translates into , more than you kidneys can process in a very short time period without removing it through unrination or sweating.

What happens when you have too much, too fast?

Though very uncommon, one could take in too much water too fast, putting strain on the body and organs such as:

  1. Your kidneys start working like crazy to push this water through your system to get it out & the minerals in your blood are diluted resulting in "Hyponatremia" or low sodium levels in blood
  2. Drinking too much water can also increase your total blood volume putting an unnecessary burden on your heart & blood vessels

What are the symptoms I may have too much water in too little time?

  • Headache- too much water can end up in the cells swelling and in the brain your skull can not expand, this is the extreme and cause death! This could possibly happen in a water drinking contest or a marathon race
  • The lighter side is urinating more than twice in an hour and your urine is clear

60% of Our Body Weight Is Water!

Recommended Daily Water Intake

Since 60% of our body weight is water and every system in our bodies depends on water to flush toxins, carry nutrients and provide moisture to our ears, nose and throat tissues, it's important that we stay well hydrated.

We lose water everyday by breath, sweat and urine and bowel movements. Food accounts for 20% of replacement, so if you consume 2 liters of water( or other beverage) a day, a little more than 8 cups, along with a normal diet your basically replacing all lost fluids.

The Institute of Medicene recommends:

  • For Men: 3 liters or 13 cups a day
  • For Women: 2.2 liters or 9 cups a day
  • For Pregnant Women: 2.4 liters or 10 cups a day
  • For Breast Feeding Women: 3.0 liters or 12.5 cups a day
  • Exercise: an extra 1 to 2 cups
  • Enviorment: Hot /Humid weather or Heated air, extra water
  • Higher Altitudes:Increase urination and breathing, so water intake should increase
  • Sickness: Vomiting, Diarrhea, bladder infections and Urinary Tract stones should also increase your water intake

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