In elementary school, I always remembered listening to the morning announcements. In particular, one saying always remained in my mind. The announcer would say, “Tip of the day is to drink eight cups of water per day”. Perplexed, I stared at my water bottle and wondered if I actually need to drink that much. I always felt hydrated drinking just a few cups, yet I was apparently not drinking enough.
8×8
The rule of 8×8 suggests an average person to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Although its origin is unclear, there is a theory from a research organization’s report in 1974. It states individuals need to consume 1 millilitre of water per calorie of food they consume. For example, a person who eats 2000 calories per day should drink approximately 2000 mL of water per day to stay hydrated.
However, there isn’t much scientific research behind this. We can still remain hydrated by other means. Foods like vegetables and fruits are great sources of water. Watermelons, strawberries, cucumbers are lettuce are examples that contain over 90% water. Approximately 20 percent of one’s daily water intake is through food. The other 80 percent of one’s daily intake is through beverages, including coffee, tea, milk and juice.
How much is enough water?
The suggested water intake for women is 2.7 litres of water per day while men’s recommended water daily intake is 3.7 litres. However, every individual’s daily water intake varies depends on their physical attributes such as age, weight, physical activity, general health as well as their living environment.
Drinking water when you feel thirsty, after strenuous activity or heat stress is an easy way to maintain hydration. Another indicator to see if you are hydrated is by looking at the colour of your urine. Dark yellow-orange coloured urine usually means you are severely dehydrated, while pale yellow coloured urine symbolizes hydration.
In reality, there isn’t a set amount of water you need to drink per day. In order to stay healthy, just remember to drink enough water; not too much, not too little.
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