The amount of water you need depends on factors like age, body size and activity level. Here are the
current recommendations for cups of water (eight ounces) per person, excluding the water-filled foods you eat:
~ Adult males – 13 cups
~ Adult females – 9 cups
~ Children aged 4 to 8 – 5 cups
~ Children aged 9 to 13 – 7-8 cups
~ Children aged 14 to 18 – 8-11 cups
If
you need an easier way to aim for a good amount of water, take your
weight and divide it by two. That is how many ounces of water you should
get each day. And be sure to hydrate all day. Your body constantly
needs water, so you should be drinking your water throughout the day.
If you sweat a lot or exercise regularly, your body will benefit with a boost in water consumption. The
American College of Sports Medicine recommends endurance athletes or anyone participating in intense activity for an hour or longer also get
added electrolytes to help replenish minerals that are lost through sweat.