How Much Water Do We Need A Day?

How much water do we need a day? Well it depends on who you ask, but the general U.S. consensus is approximately 1 gallon of water a day for men, and 3/4 gallon a day for women. The U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends 3.7 liters of water a day for men, and 2.7 liters of water a day for women.^[1] Keep in mind that this is just the recommended adequate intake, or the lowest amount of water people should consume daily.

This minimum intake refers to total water consumed daily and and not the amount of water we should drink daily. You consume around a liter of water a day from food, if you eat a whole food plant-based diet or a diet consisting of plenty of fruits and vegetables.

You would subtract the amount of water in food from the daily recommended water consumption, so men should drink a minimum of 2.7 liters (11 cups) of water a day and women should drink a minimum of 1.7 liters (7 cups) of water a day.

Remember these numbers are the minimum numbers for water consumption and not the maximum. Drinking 1 gallon of water a day for men and 3/4 a day for women, in addition to the water consumed in foods, would go a long way in ensuring you have a well hydrated body.

Studies have shown that dehydration is a common ailment, but it is easily addressed by consuming the recommended amounts of water. Dehydration inhibits normal cognitive function and promotes lethargy, which undermines daily productiveness.