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Usually about two and a half litres of water is needed each day for a reasonably sedentary adult to replace the total water loss that occurs through skin, lungs, faeces and urine, unless they are in an unusual environment.

Just under half of this should be in the form of drinks such as water or cold herbal teas and just under a litre from food. The remaining 300ml is created by the body from its own metabolic processes.

What happens if you don’t drink enough water?

1. Pulse rate and rectal temperature increases

2. Increase in respiration

3. Numbness and tingling are experienced in the extremities

4. Increase in concentration of the blood

5. Lessening of the blood volume and more difficult blood circulation

The difficulty and problems of the blood circulation under such conditions leads to:

1. breathing problems

2. gastric upsets

3. feelings of sickness and not wanting to eat

4. eventually difficulty in muscular movements and emotional instability

In a scientific study involving animals, the restriction of water gave rise to irritabliity and for some, bad temper.

Thirst

It has been demonstrated that under intense physical activity a male will only drink voluntarily around 50% as much water as what is required to replace losses from urine and sweat. Only after rest and food do the cravings for the required amount of water return to replace the fluid deficit.

Hot Drinks

Ingestion of hot drinks may cause internal body temperature to rise, which will result in sweating in order to cool the body down. Hot drinks are sometimes used in medical practice when it is desired either to temporarily increase body temperature of induce sweating. Therefore cold or cool drinks are preferred to hot drinks to replace fluid during the day, especially if the hot drinks are the only fluid daily intake.

Sugary drinks

During physical activities lasting less than 90 minutes, water is generally the beverage of choice, however, the inclusion of small concentrations of carbohydrate (6%-8% carbohydrate) have been shown to better sustain power output over water alone during physical activities that produce fatigue in 60 minutes or longer.