Water needs

Water needs vary depending on weight, age, sex, calorie needs, level of fitness, activity level, health and temperature and humidity. The Adequate Intake (AI) for total water set by the Dietary Reference Intake Committee of the National Academy Sciences is 125 ounces (about15 cups) per day for men and 91 ounces (about 11 cups) per day for women. Their report states that about 80% of the estimated total water intake is met by drinking water and beverages, while the other 20% is derived from foods.


Experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend dividing weight (in pounds) by two to calculate daily water needs (in ounces). For example: To calculate the fluid needs of a150 pound person's water needs: 150/ 2 = 75 ounces per day, then divide by 8 to convert the amount into cups: 75/8 = approximately 9.5 cups per day.




Beyond this the fluid intake will cause excessive weight gain.