Calculating Your Own Daily Water Requirements

Calculating Your Own Daily Water Requirements

The human body is composed of 25% solids and 75% water. Brain tissue is said to consist of 85% water.

It has become a practice to regard a “dry mouth” as a signal of body water needs, which is further assumed to be well-regulated if the sensation of “dry mouth” is not present. A dry mouth is the last outward sign of extreme dehydration, however. Damage occurs to the body at a persistent lower level of hydration. Because of a gradually failing thirst sensation, the body becomes chronically and increasingly dehydrated.

Signals of dehydration can be any of the following symptoms:

• Heartburn, stomach ache
• Non-infectious recurring or chronic pain
• Low back pain
• Headache
• Mental irritation and depression
• Water retention ( ironic but true! )

Further problems often develop when the sensation of thirst urges an intake of water, and instead, soda pop, coffee, or alcohol-containing beverages are taken to quench the thirst. While these beverages contain water, they are actually dehydrating fluids. Not only do they eliminate the water contained in them, but they also cause you to lose further amounts of water from your body’s reserves!

Daily Water Requirements: Drink 50-75% of your body weight in ounces. Sedentary people: 50%; Active people: 75%

Example Daily Water Calculation:

Therefore, a 150-pound active person who works out should drink 9 oz. of water for each hour awake.

Related: Think You’re Drinking Enough Water?

Source:
By Dr. Thomas Stearns Lee
www.naturodoc.com