The recommended daily amount of water a person should drink varies based on factors like age, gender, activity level, and environment. Generally:
- For adult men, about 3.7 to 4.0 liters (approximately 13 to 15.5 cups) of total water intake per day is recommended, which includes water from both drinks and food.
- For adult women, the recommendation is about 2.7 to 3.0 liters (approximately 9 to 11.5 cups) of total water intake per day.
- These amounts assume about 80% of water comes from beverages and 20% from food.
- Physically active people or those in hot climates may need more water, sometimes up to 6 liters or more per day.
- The common advice to drink "8 glasses of water a day" is a simple guideline but not strictly scientific; thirst is a better indicator of hydration needs.
Thus, a healthy adult should aim for about 9 to 15 cups of fluids daily, adapting to individual lifestyle and environmental changes.
