How much water should I really be drinking per day?

How much water should I really be drinking per day?

1 October 2018

Our bodies are made of approximately 60% water, but that doesn’t mean we’re not constantly losing it through sweat and other means. That means, to avoid becoming dehydrated, you must make sure that you’re drinking enough water on a daily basis. Health authorities recommend that we drink around eight glasses of water, that’s about 2 litres, to keep our bodies ticking over as they should be.

Our bodies are made of approximately 60% water, but that doesn’t mean we’re not constantly losing it through sweat and other means. That means, to avoid becoming dehydrated, you must make sure that you’re drinking enough water on a daily basis. Health authorities recommend that we drink around eight glasses of water, that’s about 2 litres, to keep our bodies ticking over as they should be.

However, everyone is different, and that means that amount of water you should be drinking will depend on certain internal and external factors. Your health, your age, the amount of exercise you do and the climate that you live in can all affect the recommended amount.

What happens if I don’t drink enough water? 

Dehydration can cause a number of health issues including headaches, dry mouth, chapped lips, and tiredness. This is because your body is trying its hardest to conserve the very little water it has left. A lack of water can also start to affect your brain function, leading to impaired judgement and mood swings.

The benefits of staying hydrated

When you drink enough water, you’ll be maintaining your body’s fluid balance, allowing your body to transport essential nutrients, regulate body temperature, digest your food, and more.

Boosts your immune system

If you’re someone who regularly suffers from colds and cases of flu, then the likelihood is your immune system needs a kick-start. Water helps with decongestion and works to help your body fight back when you’re not feeling 100%. When you’re dehydrated, you’re more susceptible to aching joints and muscles too. 

Gives you clearer skin

Want to get rid of those regular outbursts of pimples? Something as simple as getting your daily dose of h2o can help your body to naturally flush out the toxins that cause your skin to inflame and your pores to become clogged.

Helps your digestive system

Drinking a glass of water before each meal will improve the way your body digests food, as it prepares your gastrointestinal tract to let food in. Good digestion makes essential nutrients and minerals accessible to the body and water aids in the digestion of soluble fibre, helping your bowel to create soft, well-formed stools that are easy to pass.

Promotes weight loss

There has been much research into just how much water can reduce body weight by increasing your metabolism and reducing your appetite. Drinking 2 litres of water per day can boost your energy expenditure to roughly 96 calories, and drinking water about half an hour before a meal will reduce the number of calories you end up eating. Of course, drinking more water isn’t the only way to go about losing weight. For a healthy lifestyle, make sure that you drink enough water, eat the right food and complete 30 minutes of exercise at least 3-4 times per week. Prestige Boot Camp can help you out with the last one!