The recommended daily water intake for adults varies depending on factors like age, sex, activity level, and environment. Generally:
- For men, about 3.7 to 4.0 liters (approximately 13 to 16 cups) of total water from all beverages and food per day is recommended.
- For women, about 2.7 to 3.0 liters (approximately 9 to 12 cups) of total water per day is recommended.
About 20% of this water usually comes from food, and the rest from drinks. The common advice to drink 8 glasses (about 2 liters) of plain water daily is a rough guideline but thirst is a better indicator of individual needs. Active people or those in hot climates may need more, up to 6 liters or more a day. In short, adults generally should drink around 2.7 to 4.0 liters of water daily, including fluids from beverages and food, adjusting for personal factors like exercise and weather.
