Water Facts and Guidelines
• The adult human body is approximately 55-75 percent water.
• How much water your body needs depends on age, sex and lean body mass.
• The rule to drinking water is about 4 cups for every 1,000 calories.
• Eight 8-ounce glasses a day for people who consume 2,000 calories per day.
• Without water the average adult could only survive 3 days.
• A 5 percent loss of body water will cause weakness.
• Water is lost through perspiration, lungs, body functions, urine, stool and air travel.
• Water loss impairs an athlete’s performance, not salt or sodium loss.
• Fluids should be increased in the heat of the summer.
• Increase fluids to prevent constipation when increasing fiber.
• Coffee, tea, soda and alcohol have a dehydrating effect and will decrease body fluids.
To Promote Increased Water Intake Daily:
• Add lemon or lime to water
• Keep bottled water readily available
• Don’t wait for thirst to be an indicator
