Q: “So, let me ask you this, how much water do you drink?”
A: “Oh, 2 litres” OR “8 glasses” OR “Not enough” OR “4 glasses” OR “a glass or two a day”
This is a common question I will ask in practice at our Chatswood chiropractor. However, the response that I get is varied. So, let me ask you, how much water should we drink?
Firstly, let’s address some of the answers from above. First, how big is the glass that you are using to measure your 8 glasses of water a day? Is it 200ml; 300ml or 450ml? How much water are you then consuming if it is based upon ‘glasses’?
Second, if you are meant to drink 2 litres of water a day, is that the same for all people? Would a 100kg person require the same amount of fluid as a 60kg person? If not would they require more or less?
With water consumption, much like most things that I have come across in life, we have been told an amount and just done it without much critical thought or question.
Let’s now set the record straight!
To calculate how much water you should drink on a daily basis, you need to know your weight. You should drink, daily, 25 – 35ml of water per kilogram of body weight.
For example, if I was to weigh 40kg, that would equate to 1 – 1.4L of water per day; 80kg is 2 – 2.8L of water per day.
Easy.
Of note. This does equation not include drinks such as tea and coffee. Only water, cordial, juice and herbal tea. Remember that cordial and juice will contain high components of sugar. If you can stick to water you will be doing your body a great service.
