How much water you should drink a day: scientist has derived a simple formula

There's a well-known formula that everyone needs to drink eight glasses of clean water a day. But scientist Dr. Stuart Galloway, Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition at the University of Stirling offers a simple but scientifically sound way to determine if you're drinking enough water.

Dr. Stuart Galloway has refuted the idea that more fluid is healthier from water. His study found that a number of beverages, including diuretics such as beer and instant coffee, do not stimulate additional fluid loss than water if consumed in normal amounts, Science Focus writes.

But no one can say exactly how much everyone needs to drink, as we all have different bodies, diets and activity levels, not to mention different environments (hot, dry, humid, etc.). Most people can tell if they need more water because they feel thirsty, although this desire diminishes in old age. If in doubt, for most adults, the number of toilet visits can be a potentially useful guide to adequate hydration, Galloway says.

"This takes into account differences in fluid loss due to environment or activity level, as well as fluctuations in fluid intake. A rough rule of thumb would be four to six visits to the restroom to pee during a typical day, as long as this adequately meets your water needs," explains the scientist.

More than six trips to the restroom means you're overdoing it, while less than four means you probably need to drink more.

"This approach may have some drawbacks, such as the impact of any changes in kidney function with age, certain medications or different drink formulations that affect urine concentration and volume. It is therefore a rough rule of thumb rather than an exact guideline," he warns.

Urine color is also important, with similar caveats, he says: "To get the best idea, do not rely on a single marker, but evaluate with a combination."

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