How much water should I drink?

The amount of water it is necessary to drink in order to maintain correct hydration levels can vary from person to person. It is largely dependent on weight and physical exertion levels. Water makes up over half of our body weight and is essential for all of our organs to function effectively, so it is of vital importance to keep well hydrated. 

Drinking the recommended amount of water will reduce your risk of heart disease and kidney problems, as well as increasing your energy levels and general well being.

The best way to calculate the amount of water you should be drinking is by use of an online calculator. But a general guideline is 0.6-0.7 ounces per pound (39ml/kg) of body weight.

Your water intake should be increased depending on how active you are. If you work a very physical job, such as labouring, or if you do a lot of excercise, it is important to make sure you drink enough to re-hydrate all of the water lost as perspiration. The recommended amount of water to drink during and after exercise is 16 ounces to every pound of body weight lost during the exercise. This can be quite difficult to judge, unless you are able to hop on the scales before and after the workout, but in general 60 minutes of high energy training will likely use 1-2 pounds of water.

Generally, when you are thirsty it means you are already dehydrated! The best way to consume your water is by sipping throughout the day, not gulping it all down in one go. If you drink it all in one go, generally only a small amount is transferred to the vital areas and the rest is simply flushed through your system!

If you don't like drinking water much, then you can try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime and a sprinkle of Stevia or raw sugar. This is a great alternative to those highly processed cordial drinks.

And, no, soft drinks, teas and coffees DO NOT count towards your daily water intake! Caffeine is actually a dehydrant. 

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