This is how much water you should drink a day

Everybody knows water is essential to a healthy lifestyle but sometimes when we’re busy we forget to make hydration a priority.

Given water transports nutrients and waste around our body, regulates our temperature and even lubricates our joints, it should come as little surprise that even a small drop in our hydration levels can take a toll on both our physical performance and our mental wellbeing.

If you’ve experienced fatigue or headaches on a hot day or grown a bit grouchy when feeling parched, you’ll know what we’re talking about.

In older age, it’s all the more important to pay attention to your water intake as your body is more likely to fall victim to dehydration as a result of the ageing process.

For example, did you know that the sensation of being thirsty is often lessened the older you get and that certain medications, including diuretics and laxatives, can exacerbate the risk of dehydration? It’s even said that worries about incontinence can lead people to deliberate stymie their fluid intake.

When you consider that complications from dehydration can extend to low blood pressure, dizziness, an increased risk of falls and skin conditions, it becomes clear how important it is to not neglect your water intake.

So how much water should you be drinking each day?

Since the 1940s, versions of the 8×8 rule – consuming eight servings of eight ounces of water a day – have gained traction both in Europe and in North America. However, despite being easy to remember, it turns out there is no evidence that backs up the need for such rigid hydration habits.

By and large it depends on you and your circumstances. Weight, gender, level of physical exertion and the climate all need to be taken into account. The general rule though, is to drink little and often.

It’s worth noting that the European Food Safety Authority recommends a daily intake of two litres of water for men and 1.6 litres for women, which is roughly between six to eight glasses.

The NHS also recommends six to eight glasses, but suggests that the intake amounts to about 1.2 litres. It caveats this by stating that in hotter climes, your body will need more water. It’s also worth remembering that you can take on water via certain foods, including cucumber, celery, lettuce, watermelon and strawberries, and other drinks, including tea, coffee and milk.

If you find yourself rushed off your feet and struggling to make time for water. We’d suggest buying a reusable water bottle and taking it wherever you go. You also might want to consider O.R.S hydration tablets.

Formulated to World Health Organisation standards O.R.S helps you stay optimally hydrated throughout the day by replenishing the electrolytes you lose when you sweat. Electrolytes are important because they work with your cells, nerves and muscles to keep your body charged and working as it should.

For fast proven hydration, simply drop a couple of tablets in your water, let them dissolve and drink.

Get a hydration hit, fast, with O.R.S Hydration Tablets, available to buy at ors.uk.com, Amazon, Boots and Holland & Barrett

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