How much water should I really be drinking?
Since the average person loses between 1.5 to 2.0 litres of water everyday, most doctors recommend at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, but Dr Audley Betton, a general practicioner in Kingston, says that here in Jamaica, where it is particularly hot at times, more may be required.
“There is no absolute measure, so I tell patients that they know they are properly hydrated when they drink a glass of water and feel the need to use the bathroom almost immediately,” he said.
Of course, certain groups of people need to alter their water intake to suit their particular situation.
“If you exercise heavily, if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you suffer from a chronic disease like diabetes, you need to be getting more water than the average person,” Betton cautioned.
