Water is the most sufficient nutrient on Earth. The world has about 333 million cubic miles of it, and the human body is made up of about 60% water. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, the average American consumes about 3.18 liters or 13.4 cups of water a day.

The health authorities usually recommends eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon.

This is called the 8×8 rule and is very easy to remember.

While that sounds like a lot, here’s the shocker: 48% of that water comes from beverages other than plain drinking fluid, such as sugary sodas or juices, and 18% comes from food, so the amount of drinking water that Americans are actually consuming is much lower.

How Much Water Should You Be Drinking?
Your body absolutely needs it in order to maintain your health and live longer. But exactly how much does your body need? The easiest way to calculate how much of it you should be drinking each day is to factor in your weight and your level of physical activity. You should endeavour to take between 25-50% of your body weight in ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking 40-80 oz of water each day. If you’re physically active, you should aim for the higher end of the spectrum — in this case, 80 ounces.

The Institute of Medicine however report did not specify requirements for water but made general water intake recommendations which is based on survey data of 91 ounces (that’s 11-plus cups a day) for women and 125 ounces (15-plus cups a day) for men. 

HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD I DRINK A DAY?

What’s the Deal With Water?

Many soft drinks – including instant powdered drinks and hot chocolate – are high in sugar. Food and drinks that are high in sugar are often high in calories, and having too many calories can make you more likely to gain weight.

Some energy drinks are high in both sugar and caffeine. Checking the nutrition labels on soft drinks such as fruit juices and fizzy drinks can help you make healthier choices.

The Eatwell Guide says we should drink six to eight glasses of fluid a day.

So is drinking “enough” fluid throughout the day really that important? Well, it does more than just quench your thirst.

*The body uses it in all of its cells, organs and tissues to help regulate body temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Have you ever experienced a dry mouth, dry skin or dry eyes?

*Keeping your body hydrated and helps retain optimum levels of moisture in these areas, as well as in the blood, bones and brain.

*It also helps protect the spinal cord, acting as a lubricant and cushioning for your joints.

*The body loses water in a number of ways, including breathing, sweating, digestion, or through an illness that causes a fever, vomiting or diarrhea.

10 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Water

*Adequate intake allows the body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination and defecation, to eliminate toxins.

*The kidneys and liver use it to help flush out waste, to keep things moving properly.

If you’re working out a lot but not gaining muscle, it might be because you’re not drinking enough of it. This is because fluid is needed to build muscle.
#1. It Can Cure So Many Things
It is an amazing cure for tons of problems. These include kidney problems, constipation, and much more.
#2. Just Drink As Much as you can
However, if you can’t do the math, don’t worry. Just drink as much of it as you can. You have to drink tons of it before it becomes too much, so drink away.
#3 Dehydration Is A Major Threat
Dehydration is actually a pretty serious problem. That’s because without it, your body can’t engage in the vital life support functions.
#4 We Lose Water Constantly
Our bodies are constantly losing water through sweat, urine, and other functions. That’s why we need to constantly replenish it.
#5 Our Body Craves for it
It makes up 60% of our body weight. It’s an essential component to our survival.
Check out the video below for more information on how much water you should be drinking each day, and why it’s vital for keeping your body healthy and strong:

Note also that you can get water through your food. Most fruits and vegetables contains much of water, like watermelon and lettuce.