If you take a second to look, you’ll see water is all around us. The planet is completely covered by it. It makes up most of who we are. It’s funny because even most of the things we think are solid are actually fluid for the most part.

It’s a fact that water is healthy. It helps us regulate our body temperature and improves the health of our skin. It gives us more energy and helps with detoxification. The list of benefits just keep going.

The question isn’t whether water is healthy. That’s a fact.

Now the question becomes how much water should you have per day?

The answer to this question really depends on a number of factors. Unless you live under a rock, you probably know the 8 by 8 rule – drink eight (8 ounce) glasses of water every single day. But who came up with these guidelines?

Actually, the answer sits in the gray area. In fact, a lot of the health initiatives revolving water are sponsored by large bottled water companies. So it only makes sense that the recommendations are a little biased. 

The truth is, drinking more water than your body can handle may have negative effects on your health. This can lead to something like hyponatremia, which is a condition  that happens when drinking too much water dilutes the sodium levels within your bloodstream. Very dangerous stuff.

It’s important to also look at the food you’re eating. Food in itself contains a lot of fluid, which adds to your total fluid consumption.

With that being said,  how much water should I drink a day then?

Well, it really depends. Factors like your activity levels or even the temperature outside make a big difference. So it will never be the same. Your water requirements are constantly changing. 

So while the 8 by 8 guidelines are a great reference, the better route to take is to simply listen to your body. If you’re thirsty, drink water. If you’re not, then stay away from it. 

Just let your thirst be your guide.