HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD I DRINK?

Water is the ultimate “elixir of life.” Every organ, muscle, or cell of your body needs water to survive, regenerate, develop and work properly. That is why dehydrated skin often shows signs of premature aging.

In fact, water makes up to 60% of your body weight and carries out some essential functions such as:

• Temperature balance.
• Protection and lubrication for sensitive tissues.
• Detoxification and elimination of waste and by-products of metabolism, immune response, etc.

In other words, dehydration does not only “show” on your skin, but can also instantly lead to misbalance in all systems in your body, preventing them from normal functioning. That is why as soon as your body senses a lack of water, it starts signaling instantly, making you feel drained.

Drinking 8 glasses of water every day is the most standard recommendation. This “classic” approach to healthy water consumption is perfectly reasonable for an average modern, adult person.

However, while some of us live in big cities, work in offices, and have a moderate level of physical activity every day, others may spend most of their time outdoors or work “on their feet.”

Your healthy hydration will also depend on your diet, as at least 20% of water comes from the food you eat every day.

After all, your age and gender will also influence how much water you need to drink to stay healthy. A young growing person will need more water for healthy cell division and body development than an adult.  A pregnant or breastfeeding woman will also need to drink much more water to stay properly hydrated and preserve youthful, healthy-looking skin.

To answer this question, let’s take the general recommendation from The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and observe some factors that may influence your particular case.

• Women – 11.5 cups (2.7 litres)
• Men – 15.5 cups (3.7 litres)

And here are the reasons why you may need to drink more water than an average person of the same age as you are:

• You live in a hot climate. Living in a hot, dry, or otherwise, humid climate may force your body to lose more moisture during the day. The same is true if you find yourself in the mountains at a high altitude.
• You spend a lot of time in a heated or air-conditioned room. Air conditioning and heating make the air dry and force your body to lose water faster. It will affect your skin tone, making your face look dull and tired. Those who spend most of their day indoors during hot or cold seasons should also drink more water to stay hydrated.
• You are sick. When we get infected or intoxicated, our bodies often respond with diarrhea, vomiting, or extra sweatiness. This natural response from the immune system will make you lose a lot of fluids. That is why any physician will always emphasize that you need to drink a lot of fluids while you are sick. It will also help your skin regenerate faster after irritation and inflammations that can be caused by using tissue paper, wearing a facemask, or even certain medications.
• Your diet. Do you prefer fresh food, eat a lot of salads and fruits? Or does your diet mostly consist of processed products, salty or spicy foods, and drinks with added sugar? In the latter case, you will need to drink much more water to help your body process your diet.

Proper hydration is essential for your beauty and wellbeing, and many factors can affect it. However, make sure to contact your healthcare expert to get recommendations that correspond to your current condition precisely.

Conclusion

Although healthy water intake is one of the most debated topics in health and skincare today, and you may come across various theories and recommendations, some common guidelines will help you stay healthily hydrated:

• Don't ignore thirst and drink a glass of water as soon as you feel “dry.”
• Carry a bottle of water with you when you exercise or spend time outdoors.
• If you suddenly feel exhausted or get a headache in the middle of the day, first make sure to drink a glass of water. In most cases, it is your body signaling dehydration.

Your body is a sophisticated mechanism that has been perfected through millions of years of evolution. Listening to its signals and responding to them will help you remain healthy and preserve your youth and balance naturally.