How much water should we drink in a day?

Common answer to this question  is: 2 litres or 8 cups a day. Well, this is not necessarily correct!

First of all, the exact amount of water you need is determined by many factors including your age, gender, body composition and activity level, as well as the weather! Secondly, the 2-3 litres that is suggested may be consumed through drinking any beverage, as well as foods including fruits, vegetables, soup, milk and yogurt.

Symptoms of dehydration may include: headache and/or dizziness, concentrated (i.e. dark yellow, strong smelling) urine, dry mouth and dry eyes, fatigue, increased heart rate and/or low blood pressure and constipation.

Having a water bottle on site is a great reminder to help you stay hydrated. Of course, feeling thirsty is a good reminder as well, but it is important to recognize that this sense is only triggered when our body has already sensed the dehydration. So it is best to prevent thirst through adequate hydration.

Reference:

Dietitians of canada. (2014, November 27). Guidelines for staying hydrated – Dietitians of Canada. Retrieved from https://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Water/Why-is-water-so-important-for-my-body—Know-when-.aspx