What It Means
Water intake is the total amount of water your body takes in each day. It counts plain water, every other drink, and the water inside food. The National Academies set an Adequate Intake for total water of 3.7 liters a day for men and 2.7 liters for women, and Mayo Clinic presents those as about 15.5 cups and 11.5 cups. Very active people and people in hot climates may need more, the National Academies add.
Try It: Split Your Daily Water Between Drinks and Food
Pick the figure that applies to you. The split shows how much usually comes from drinks and how much from food, using the National Academies' survey share.
Mayo Clinic puts the total at about 15.5 cups11.5 cups a day.
The National Academies note that very active people and people in hot climates may need more than these figures.
How People Say It
- "Have you had any water today?"
- "I keep a bottle on my desk so I remember to drink."
- "Does coffee count toward my water?"
The Breakdown
Worked example. Using the National Academies' figures and their survey share for drinks and food:
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Adequate Intake, total water | 3.7 liters | 2.7 liters |
| Mayo Clinic's figure in cups | about 15.5 cups | about 11.5 cups |
| From water and other drinks (about 81%) | about 3.0 liters | about 2.2 liters |
| From food (about 19%) | about 0.7 liters | about 0.5 liters |
What the result means. The headline number includes food, so the amount you drink is lower than the total. In the National Academies' data, drinks of all kinds supplied about 81 percent of total water for adults ages 19 to 30, and food supplied the rest. The figure is an Adequate Intake, a reference amount, so use it as a guide rather than a count you must hit to the cup.
What moves the number. The National Academies name two things that raise needs: a lot of physical activity, and hot weather. On those days, plan to drink more.
Good to Know
The figures on this page come from the National Academies' report on dietary reference intakes for water, and Mayo Clinic converts them to cups. They count every drink and the water in food, not plain water alone. If a doctor has told you to limit or increase fluids because of a health condition, follow that advice over these general figures, and ask your doctor if you're unsure how much is right for you.
FAQ
How much water should I drink a day?
The National Academies' Adequate Intake for total water is 3.7 liters a day for men and 2.7 liters for women, which Mayo Clinic gives as about 15.5 and 11.5 cups. That total includes water from food and from every drink.
Does food count toward water intake?
Yes. In the National Academies' data, food supplied about 19 percent of total water for adults ages 19 to 30, and drinks supplied about 81 percent.
Do I need more water when I exercise or it's hot?
Yes. The National Academies note that people who are very physically active or who live in hot climates may need more than the standard figures.
Do It in Buhata
Body
Log each glass in Body in Buhata, so you can see how your day's drinks compare with the figure for you.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Caffeine cutoff
The time of day after which you stop having caffeine so it doesn't disturb sleep; CDC's NIOSH advises 5 or more hours before you plan to sleep.
- Afternoon slump
The dip in energy and focus many people feel in the early to mid afternoon, linked to the body's daily hormone rhythm and to what and how much was eaten at lunch.
- 10,000 steps
A popular daily step goal that began as the name of a 1960s Japanese pedometer; later studies find health benefits begin well below it.
- Self-care
Taking time to do things that help you live well and look after your physical and mental health, such as moving, sleeping, resting and staying in touch.
- Habit stacking
James Clear's name for building a new habit by tying it to one you already do, using the formula "After I do my current habit, I will do my new habit."
- Mindful eating
Paying full, nonjudging attention to eating, including the food's taste and texture and your hunger and fullness, rather than eating on autopilot.
Sources
National Academies, "Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate"; National Academies, "Report Sets Dietary Intake Levels for Water, Salt, and Potassium To Maintain Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Risk"; Mayo Clinic, "Water: How much should you drink every day?"
- www.nationalacademies.org/read/10925/chapter/6
- www.nationalacademies.org/news/report-sets-dietary-intake-levels-for-water-salt-and-potassium-to-maintain-health-and-reduce-chronic-disease-risk
- www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
Last updated .