The volume of water you should drink daily is quite an individual issue, so calculating it according to formulas may not be as easy as some websites would have you believe. Experts say that about 80% of total water intake comes from drinking water and beverages (juices, teas, caffeinated beverages, etc), while 20% comes from food. They also say that it is vital to drink clear water, and point out that drinking water instead of soda can help with weight loss.

Factors that influence the amount of water you should drink:

• age

• the climate where you live and/or are traveling

• your body’s peculiarities

• physical activity

• medications you are taking

• how much coffee you drink

• possible chronic diseases

• pregnancy

Women are recommended to have about 2.7 liters (91 ounces) total water every day -- from all beverages and foods (The Food and Nutrition Board). Men, by the way, have to drink more - about 3.7 liters (125 ounces).

If you’re participating in sports, you should add 12 ounces of water to your daily intake for every 30 minutes that you plan to work out (The American College of Sports Medicine).

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should take particular care and drink sufficient amounts of clear water every day. Dehydration for pregnant women is twice as dangerous as usual.

Rapid change in both cold or hot weather means your body requires more water to be able to do its temperature management job.

People who drink coffee, pop, or anything with caffeine in it, should add an extra glass of water for everyone.

Track the volumes of water you drink every day with the MIA Water Tracker to take control

of your daily water intake.

Sources:

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture

Drinking water & public health, https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/Drinking-Water-and-Public-Health.aspx