{"id":24444,"date":"2023-08-08T08:21:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T15:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/?p=24444"},"modified":"2025-04-02T15:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T22:10:46","slug":"how-much-fluid-does-your-body-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/how-much-fluid-does-your-body-need\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Fluid Does Your Body Need?"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article\">\n\t<header class=\"header\">\n\t\t<span class=\"type\"><\/span>\t\t<h1>How Much Fluid Does Your Body Need?<\/h1>\t\t<time>August 8, 2023<\/time>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div id=\"block_3c56cf745570c68c6290357e05a90f80\" class=\"shs-block block-news-article entry-content\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>The human body needs fluid to function, but you may not need eight glasses of water a day to get the proper amount for your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to data from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, an adult male needs 15.5 cups of fluid daily, and an adult female needs 11.5 cups. While water is a key source of that fluid, you can also get those important liquids from food and other beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven that morning cup of coffee can count as part of your daily fluid intake,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/patients-visitors\/find-a-doctor\/rodriguez-crystal-1780136242\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crystal Rodriguez, PA-C<\/a>, of <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/find-a-location\/samaritan-walk-in-clinic-corvallis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samaritan Walk-In Clinic \u2013 Corvallis<\/a>. \u201cI think that may be welcome news to those who struggle to drink the often-recommended eight glasses of water a day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just that favorite morning beverage that helps, but all the fluid we take in, noted Rodriguez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhether the water we ingest comes from a juicy orange, a bowl of soup, a cup of tea, a diet soda or a glass of water \u2013 it all counts in the amount the body needs. In fact, statistics show that about 20% of the water our body gets each day comes from food, and the rest from drinks, so drinking water is still important,\u201d said Rodriguez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-does-the-body-need-fluids\">Why Does the Body Need Fluids?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Water makes up 50% to 70% of the body\u2019s total weight and is something we simply cannot live without.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFluids help to keep body temperature normal, remove waste and toxins, lubricate and cushion joints and protect delicate tissue,\u201d Rodriguez explained. \u201cBecause of this vital role to health, we want to make healthy decisions in our fluid choices to ensure we\u2019re fueling up on the nutrients we need. So, avoid sugary drinks, excessive caffeine and alcohol, and continue to drink water. Any kind of water is fine &#8212; tap, sparkling, cold or hot \u2013 whatever you like best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other healthy options can include herbal teas, milk, 100% juice, and high-water-content fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, tomatoes, applesauce and lettuce salad. You could also make ice cubes from 100% juice to add to a plain glass of water for a subtle flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-water-you-need-depends\">How Much Water You Need Depends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the guidelines for how much fluid the average healthy adult needs, there are times when a person may need more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven as we\u2019re taking in fluid throughout the day, our bodies are also losing fluids through urination, bowel movements, breath and sweat. There are times when we really need to pay attention to how much fluid we are losing so we can replenish that fluid accordingly,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-to-drink-more-water\">When to Drink More Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/dehydration-danger-and-symptoms-summer-in-oregon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Hot weather <\/strong><\/a>\u2013 When the temperature spikes, we sweat more, even at the pool or beach. Be sure and carry water with you to drink throughout the day as you lose fluids. \u201cWhen we lose fluids faster than we replenish them, dehydration becomes a major concern,\u201d explained Rodriguez. \u201cWatch for signs of dehydration, such as fatigue, lightheadedness, headache, muscle aches and more. Try to get out of the heat and drink water. If symptoms worsen or do not get better or resolve, seek immediate medical attention.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exercise<\/strong> \u2013 Again, increased sweating means increased fluid loss. Drink water before, during and after exercise to keep your body fully hydrated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sickness<\/strong> \u2013 The body loses fluids with fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Try to keep drinking fluids or follow your doctor\u2019s advice on using rehydration solutions. Bladder infections and other urinary tract issues can also require taking in more fluids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pregnancy<\/strong> \u2013 When pregnant or breastfeeding, a person may need additional fluids to stay fully hydrated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of all, pay attention to your thirst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThirst is still the best indication your body needs to replenish fluids,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cBut the signal for thirst can diminish with age, so I recommend you drink water or another healthy beverage with each meal and throughout the day. If you tend to forget to drink water, consider setting a timer to remind yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/healthy-summer-treats-you-can-make-yourself\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Get ideas for drink and treats<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;you can make at home to stay hydrated and refreshed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Crystal Rodriguez, PA-C, sees patients at Samaritan Walk-In Clinic \u2013 Corvallis. To reach her, call <a class=\"phone-link\" href=\"tel:541-768-4970\">541-768-4970<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/water-in-a-glass-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta wp-post-image\" alt=\"Water can help you keep your cool. A glass with water being poured in front of a cool blue-green background.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/water-in-a-glass-CO.jpg 360w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/water-in-a-glass-CO-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/water-in-a-glass-CO-120x100.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><figcaption>When temperatures spikes, we sweat more, even at the pool or the beach. Always carry water with you to drink throughout the day to replenish lost fluids.<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/infused-water-325-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta\" alt=\"Mason jar of water with blueberries, rosemary sprigs and lime.\" \/><figcaption>There are many ways to add additional flavor for a cool and refreshing change of pace.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t<\/aside>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The human body needs fluid to function, but you may not need eight glasses of water a day to get the proper amount for your body.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":14488,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_shs_workflow_notes":"August 08, 2023","_shs_exclude_from_navigation":false,"_shs_promote_article_on_blogs":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"news-topics":[293],"news-types":[270],"services":[238,245,265],"specialty":[9,31,18],"class_list":["post-24444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","news-topics-wellness","news-types-feature-article","services-family-medicine","services-internal-medicine","services-walk-in-same-day-care","specialty-family-medicine","specialty-emergency-medicine","specialty-internal-medicine"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24444\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24444"},{"taxonomy":"news-topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topics?post=24444"},{"taxonomy":"news-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-types?post=24444"},{"taxonomy":"services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services?post=24444"},{"taxonomy":"specialty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/specialty?post=24444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}