The amount of water a person should drink per day varies based on factors such as age, sex, activity level, climate, and health conditions. General guidelines are:
- For men, about 3.7 liters (15.5 cups) of fluids per day is recommended.
- For women, about 2.7 liters (11.5 cups) of fluids per day is recommended.
These amounts include all fluids consumed, not just plain water, and also account for water obtained from food
. Other sources suggest adults generally need between 1.5 to 2 liters of fluid daily, with adjustments based on individual factors like temperature, exertion, and diet
. A practical approach is to drink approximately 35 ml of water per kilogram of body weight. For example:
- A 72 kg person should drink about 2.5 liters daily.
- An 85 kg person should drink about 3 liters daily
It is possible to drink too much water, which can overload the kidneys and cause water intoxication, but this usually requires consuming excessive amounts (8-10 liters or more) in a short time
. In summary, most adults should aim for roughly 2.5 to 3.7 liters of fluids daily, adjusting intake based on personal needs and environmental conditions
