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How Much Water Should I Drink?

Let's look at facts about the role water plays in keeping a body healthy (and the flip side of that coin, its potential for danger) to determine how much water you need. Drinkable, unpolluted water is one of the most necessary substances on the planet and a precious commodity in areas of the world where drought is common. Water isn't just a thirst-quencher—it's a life-sustaining liquid. It accounts for over 60% of a person's total weight and provides essential care for every body system, transporting nutrients to cells and carrying wastes away from them, cleansing toxins from vital organs, and keeping membranes in the nose, throat, and eyes comfortably moist. Water is primarily lost from a healthy body through sweat, urination, and, to a lesser degree, breath and bowel movements.

When the human body loses too much water, whether from heat exhaustion in hot climates, profuse sweating by athletes, fluids lost through vomiting or diarrhea, or some types of kidney failure, dehydration ensues. Severe dehydration is dangerous and can lead to death unless quickly corrected, especially among children. But the claim made by self-styled authorities that a full three-fourths of the public suffer chronically from a state of dehydration is not backed up by scientific proof. Here's what we do know: Read on...

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3/3/2015 8:00:00 AM

Written by Donald McGee

Dr. Donald McGee is the Founder of Wellness.com, a Board Certified M.D., graduated from Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and has an accredited PhD in Health Studies from Saybrook Institute in San Francisco. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine as well as a Fellow of the American ...

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Comments

I have never drank a lot of water. If I drink to much water I get cramps.

Posted by Raymond Babcock

thank u

Posted by venkatasubbaiah jana

I'm 57. As women age we find leakage to be an issue. We stop drinking fluids thinking this will make a difference (it doesn't). Recently I've bought into the 'drink more water' thought and have found that the leakage issue has gotten better not worse. It seems my internal systems are working better for it. I'm certain that I've been under-hydrated for years. I've had enough to stay alive but not enough to stay healthy.

I can't say how much is too much but do think most people don't drink enough.

Posted by Deb

Thank you for this article. I am not an M.D. or a neuroscientist. I am just an average everyday person who happens to be a group exercise instructor. I encourage people to take water breaks during my classes especially indoor cycling. I do agree that we have to rehydrate. I had two students come to class yesterday without water. Luckily, I had two extra bottles with me and passed them along. I guess anything in excessive consumption is bad for us. Moderation is the key...

Posted by Catherine Hunt

well water is the most important thing

Posted by jesenebarochin

This article gave appropriate information on a subject about which the general population is largely ignorant. The facts were good, the editorial comments not as astute. The idea that you can die from drinking too much water in the same sentence as eight glasses of water a day is misleading and confusing to those who do not do their own research. As a nurse who spends much time convincing dehydrated people to drink 8 glasses of water a day, I hate it when physicians deflect from that. We are on the front lines and know that there are thousands more people destroying their health through dehydration than from water intoxication.

Posted by Elizabeth

Water flow is passive. It is controlled by the ion pumps. The ion pumps are fueled by ATP. 90% of ATP is consumed by these pumps. Concentrations gradients create charged membranes that suddenly release their stored energy and allow our muscles and minds to move. When the cells lose too much water they shrink and the cellular organelles become less efficient. Imagine a crowded workshop where output suffers.
Think Donald of the lethargy of thought in the early afternoon. You have pee'ed out the last of your coffee and diet coke. What to do? Take an adderal? Go for a walk?
None of the above.
Drink a glass of water and relax for several minutes while your mitochondria flex their muscles and the brain sloth disappears. I feel bad for anyone who has not discovered that H2O is a subtle energy drink. My ideas here are being fueled by 12 oz of coffee (99% H2O). Forget the kidney and fitness gurus and simply introspect. That margarita you had the other night was a triple whammy of water, sugar and brain solvent (EtOH) that dissolved persistent and annoying thought loops. Do not over-analyse the Great Hydration Conundrum. Never begin an article by denouncing self proclaimed experts. MD's are some of the worst self proclaimers. Sometimes a thirsty dog has more insight than a PhD.

Posted by douglas finlayson MD

Donald,
As the founder of Wellness.com, you should review the articles being posted to your website. What you debunk with your article is recommended in the preceding article "Can your Diet Clear Up your Skin?" Several of us noted the discrepancy between the two articles.

Posted by Ruth-Ann

Thank You. so much for this article

Posted by Sandy

It's great for those who have some water to drink. In the world there is a big lack of clean water and in the years that will come - water will become as rare as gold for humankind.

Look at India for example, because of high population growth, the water supplies are not enough - with only 1000 cubic meters of water per person, while in US a person has 8000 cubic meters of water per year.

If the water supplies are low, how much should a person drink then, Dr. McGee?

Posted by Pavel Lipcean