We’ve all heard that we should drink eight glasses of water a day. The truth is that there is no general standard that meets every person’s needs. How much water you need varies. However, there are some basic guidelines for recommended daily intake: For men, the Institute of Medicine recommends 13 cups or about 3 liters each day. Women, they suggest 9 cups or about 2.21 liters of water each day. Pregnant women should drink about 10 cups of water daily. Those who breastfeed need about 12 cups.

If you’re outside on a hot day or doing something physically taxing, you’ll need to drink more fluids to stay hydrated. As a rule of thumb, the more your activity levels increase, the more water you should drink. The same is true if you have an illness that causes you to throw up, have diarrhea, or run a fever. 

If you have certain medical conditions like heart failure or a particular type of kidney disease, you may need to limit your fluid intake. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.

Need help drinking more water? It can seem impossible to get the recommended amount of water in each day. There is only so much time in the day, but there are ways to keep yourself on track. Try keeping track of your water intake by measuring your progress with a cup or water bottle placed where you see it throughout the day. Set goals for yourself at different times during the day to make sure you are drinking enough. Set reminders on your phone. Replace other drinks with water or drink a glass of water before each meal.

As always if you need assistance meeting your water needs, please call us and inquire about our service.