How much water should I drink a day?

There are many doubts about what is the recommended amount of water per day to avoid negative consequences. Although a number of liters can be set at the general level, it is very important to consider the characteristics of each person, as well as the climate of the place where he lives.

Water is one of the main components of the organism and depends on it to survive. In addition, water provides multiple health benefits, including:

• Elimination of toxins
• Maintain a stable body temperature
• Promote circulation
• Allow nutrients to be assimilated faster
• Lubricate the joints
• Protect organs to function properly, etc.

How many liters of water should be taken a day?

At a general level, it is advisable to ingest between 1.5 and 2 liters of water a day. However, this amount should be increased in summer or when doing some sport. It is also necessary to take into account the type of metabolism, as well as the particular circumstances, such as if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

This recommendation includes liquids that come from other beverages and foods. Therefore, when drinking water directly, it is important to consider that 20% of the recommended amount per day is included in the usual diet.

The body is constantly losing water, even if we do not notice it. Next to urine and sweat, other ways of removing fluids are breathing and evacuation of feces. Therefore, for the body to function properly it is necessary to restore water levels through progressive intake during the 24 hours.

In addition to maintaining continuous hydration throughout the day, it is advisable to increase consumption before, while and after practicing physical exercise. The same happens when weather conditions are too humid or hot, as well as when you have a condition that causes the body to become dehydrated, such as diarrhea or vomiting.

It is very important not to wait for thirst to drink water, as this sensation appears when the body is beginning to dehydrate. The most advisable thing to comply with the recommended amount of water per day is to always carry a bottle with you and replace as much as possible the soft drinks with the liquid without smell, color or taste par excellence.

Recommended water according to age

In the case of children it is very important to control the amount of water they take a day. During infantile age, the organism is more vulnerable to suffering from temperature disorders that affect brain capacity.

Until about 8 or 9 years old, it is advisable to take 1.5 liters of water a day. From this age, consumption should be increased to 2 liters per day. It is essential that the little ones drink liquid despite not being thirsty, either through the intake of water or other foods, such as soups, fruits, juices, etc.
In the case of the elderly, it is necessary to take the same amount of Water recommended per day at the general level. It should be borne in mind that a lack of fluid for a long time can lead to different diseases. These are usually aggravated according to the state of Health in which the elderly are.

Problems with drinking too much water

Not drinking the recommended amount of water a day causes dehydration, the main symptoms of which are tiredness and lack of energy. However, it should be borne in mind that drinking too much water can also be harmful to health.

Among the main consequences caused by an excessive intake of this liquid are insomnia due to the need to urinate constantly, hyperhidrosis or extreme sweating, or alteration of the balance of the body’s salts, among others.