We all know that we must keep ourselves hydrated, but the big question is: How much water should we drink daily?

The First Step

Whether you aspire to material success or spiritual fulfillment, you will not succeed if your body refuses to cooperate. From pristine health to a disastrous physique, from a lazy panda to reworking my health, I have experienced quite a lot.

Having seen both ends of the spectrum, I can tell you — No matter where you stand, your life feels like heaven, even if your physical health improves slightly.

And in my view, staying hydrated is the first step to good health. Water is the elixir of life, without which you will feel perpetual fatigue, which will prevent your muscles from developing or strengthening.

Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.

W. H. Auden

Observe Your Body

To know if you are drinking enough fluids, observe yourself. The following criteria can determine the adequacy of your fluid intake:

1. The color of your urine: If you drink enough water, your urine will be pale yellow or clear. You need to drink more if it is darker yellow.
2. Bowel movements: Those drinking enough fluids will have soft bowel movements. Constipation or hard bowel movements can be signs of inadequate water consumption.
3. Thirst: Common sense suggests that we should drink water when thirsty. However, that’s not what science says! If you’re waiting to feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Thirst is an SOS signal from the body for help.
4. Fatigue: There could be many reasons for this, but not consuming enough fluids can also make you feel exhausted.

How Much Water?

The big question about fluids is how much to drink every day. The challenge is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for hydration.

Plus, drinking too much fluids is an issue because our kidneys struggle to eliminate the excess, and drinking too little leads to dehydration.

The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine gives us general guidelines. The average daily fluid requirement is:

• About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men
• About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

Out of that, 15–20% comes from our food and the rest from water and beverages.

If you don’t wish to bother with all that math, using a hydration calculator is simpler to estimate water intake. You can find a good one here: Hydration Calculator.

Additional Tips

Consuming water before each meal is beneficial in many ways. It becomes necessary, especially for those initiated into Sri Vidya, because these mantras raise body temperature. So, please set three reminders on your phone to drink water.

However, if you are like me, you may feel drinking water is nauseating. Therefore, I do the following to get my fluids quota for the day:

1. Sparkling Water: This is my go-to drink. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it works magic when you do.
2. Lime Juice: Add a few drops of lime or lemon juice to your water for a natural option.
3. Home-Remedy Spices: Sometimes, I add cumin or carom seeds to my water. If you do this, boil the water with those spices and cool it to a drinkable temperature. This concoction also stimulates your metabolism.
4. Fluid Enhancer: If nothing works, you can even try fluid/water enhancers. These have food coloring, which isn’t as great, but the slight sweetness keeps me away from processed sugar (a huge plus).

Tiny ailments can add up to become something big. So, for your good health and freshness, begin drinking enough fluids today.

Love,
Sri Devi Om