How Much Water Do You Drink?

Recently I became ill with a virus and went to my doctor. My doctor recommended the usual treatment: rest, hydration, and pain relief where required. She recommended that I should be drinking at least 3L per day when Im unwell and a minimum of 2L of water when im healthy.
I probably drink a total of 2L of liquids per day (including water, milk, coffee, beer, etc) but not 2L of water alone

I'm interested to know, how much water do you drink per day?

Also, if you drink more than 3L per day, have you found that your body has become better at processing that water and over time and you don't need to go to the toilet all the time?

Poll Options

  • 32
    Male: Less than 1L per day
  • 99
    Male: 1-2L per day
  • 100
    Male: 2-3L per day
  • 61
    Male: More than 3L per day
  • 10
    Female: Less than 1L per day
  • 22
    Female: 1-2L per day
  • 13
    Female: 2-3L per day
  • 2
    Female: More than 3L per day

Comments

  • +14

    No idea how much water is in KFC but I eat at least 2 zinger burgers, 1 bucket of original recipe and 20 pack nuggets per day. Can anyone do the maths for me?

    • No idea what that sodium to water ratio is but that's 2500mg

      • and ~8600 calories thereabouts

    • +2

      Are the nuggets normal or hot and spicy? So you also have sauce? Very important in the calculations.

      • +2

        Sometimes I swap between normal and spicy nuggies. Depends if I'm depressed or not.

        Sauce - BBQ

        • +1

          Thankyou for the information. I would calculate on average ~800-900ml.

          You've also made me want to go and get a zinger burger.

          • @brendanm:

            You've also made me want to go and get a zinger burger.

            You're welcome.

        • I forgot to ask, if you are depressed do you have the normal, or the hot and spicy? Asking for a friend.

  • +13

    This all comes from decades old research which stated we must have so many glasses of water per day. Unfortunately it was taken at face value by many, who didn't bother to read further down where it stated the water could come from fruit, vegetables, tea etc - it didn't have to be plain water. This has persisted to this day, with many bottled water companies very eager to perpetuate this misunderstanding.

    • I thought so too. But do you know how much is recommended from water itself?

      • Don't think there is a figure. Obviously water by itself will be better as it won't contain sugar etc.

  • +11

    1L of chocolate milk
    1L of water
    1L of goon

    • +1

      Mix together in empty 2L milk jug and shake. Pour into a bucket and garnish with a chicken wing.

      The Bogan Cocktail.

      • +4

        You might have some problems mixing those ingredients in that size vessel champ.

        • +1

          A bogan wouldn't 😁

  • +1

    If you drink more than 3L a day and can't find a toilet, ur ine trouble.

    I normally drink 3+ a day if at work, and no you don't get used to peeing less.

  • +3

    You not meant to drink high quantities of water. When your Dr told you to drink 2L of water, which include all type of liquid, not just water.
    Google it "water intoxication"

    • +2

      You not meant to drink high quantities of water.

      And it's important to note that 'high quantities' will certainly very by person and day to day.

      I drink about 2-3L of water a day, but I've built up to this over a while. I drink a lot less on a weekend (1-1.5L), so Monday every week is closer to 1.5-2L then by Friday I'm up to 3L. It will be a bit higher on a hot day too, and higher if you exercise…

      However everyone does have their limit! (Which is boomramada's point). Once I got into a "water drinking contest" and I was having about 4+L of water a day for a few days and did start to feel ill over it.

      • +2

        important to note that 'high quantities' will certainly vary by person and day to day.

        Correct, don't ask medical advices in forums :)

        Although, if you go talk to two different Dr's, they will tell you two different answers.

  • +1

    I almost never drink plain water - but drink a fair bit of juice, cordial, and flavoured milk.
    Everyone keeps telling me I'm going to die - but it hasn't happened yet!

  • +1

    Drink water whenever you're thirsty. That's all you need to do. Your body tells you when you need water. There is no special specific amount you must have. It's whatever your body tells you it needs by making you feel thirsty.

    • -1

      Your body tells you when you need water because you are dehydrated…

      • -1

        Do you always eat before you're hungry?

        • -1

          Well you should if you are underweight

        • -2

          Let's just ignore what science tells us. Let's go with the current trend.

    • Yeah nah, that's rubbish. When you are thirsty, you're already dehydrated. You should drink before you become thirsty.

  • M-F I drink 1.6l of water and 4 cups of tea a day.

    S-S 4 cups of tea a day, couple of cans of pepsi max and a couple of beers.

  • I get my water from my endless cups of coffee.

  • +7

    If your pee is not yellow, you're doing alright

    • Cool so brown is fine

      • is blue alright

    • +2

      But the vitamin supplements….

    • Cool. Peeing blood is alright then.

  • Also, if you drink more than 3L per day, have you found that your body has become better at processing that water and over time and you don't need to go to the toilet all the time?

    I was told years back that drinking a lot but drinking slowly absorbs better and does what it's supposed to and you don't pee as much, but if you gulp it too much down at once it comes straight out and is just a waste.

    Slow sips over time, something something rhyme.

    • Even better with a slice of lime?

  • I don't know if there's something wrong with me but I drink very little water which I know is bad but I simply don't feel very thirsty and can't take down a lot of fluids in one go. I struggle to do 1L a day because I just don't need it I think?

  • I drink around 3L of water at work (very active job) and depending on the season I could drink anywhere from 1L to 2L at home. In winter I kind of forget about it and might only drink 800ml a day. Summer, different story of course.

  • Five litres per day, what do I win?

  • +1

    I drink over 3lt a day as I add water to my 'shine' :)
    I also take heaps of diuretics
    So I have to drink
    but my body retains too much water
    I can't win
    time for another 'water' ;)

  • I have around 6L.

  • The real question here is how many times do you piss a day?

    • What does it mean if I drink 3L of piss a day?

  • I drink about 1L a day.

  • Used to do 3L+ a day. Now, I avoid water after late afternoon so I won't wake up several times to go to the toilet.

  • I believe the recommendation is 2L of liquids, does not need to be water specifically. The whole idea is that there is adequate fluid for your kidneys to filter out the bad stuff.

  • Off topic but I am quite surprised at the high ratio of men to women who answered this poll. I would have thought it would be much more even. Perhaps this topic isn't of interest to the fairer sex? Anyone have a rough idea of the actual user ratio or if any demographics are available?

    • It probably reflects the ratio of men to women on Ozb.

    • -2

      Off topic but I am quite surprised at the high ratio of men to women who answered this poll. I would have thought it would be much more even.

      Your poll about an inoffensive subject (water) with a pretty good sample size (300+ people) has actually unintentionally revealed the lopsidedness of the gender demographic of this website (10% to 15% female).

      It's pretty close to the pareto principle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle

      Perhaps this topic isn't of interest to the fairer sex?

      The topic of water? Water is of interest to both sexes.
      The topic of bargains, that this website is about and the place you started the poll? Well that could be an example of things that men in general might find interesting (EG. cars, computers, programming etc) and things that women might find interesting (EG. makeup, fashion, teaching etc)

      If we are to assume that the feminists are right and that we live in a patriarchy (the world is controlled by men) and that there is a gender pay gap (men make more than women), and that most people live under gender roles (men are the providers, women are the homemakers), then it would make sense that women are less interested in bargains: because they are the ones doing the shopping and spending their husband's money. Again, I stress, that's if we assume the world view of feminists are correct.

      Anyone have a rough idea of the actual user ratio or if any demographics are available?

      Apart from the 80%/20% rule, we do know that there is a high percentage of Asian men based on the OzBargain meetups. No offense to Chinese people but that also makes sense: Australia has a high percentage of Chinese immigrants/students/tourists and again, no offense, the Chinese in general have a (justified) stereotype for saving money. Of course, there are Chinese "nouveau riche" but they are in the minority. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerdai

      Last but not least, OzBargain meetups are sausage fests too.

  • Would depend on BMI

  • I think when unwell its fair advice to keep hydration up but when well, hydration needs change from day to day. There's no set target these days - as long as you're drinking regularly I wouldn't get too caught up in the number. One thing you should be aware of though is that in the absence of water, we eat. So if you're eating a lot, try drinking a glass of water first. Sometimes hungry is just thirsty!

  • Once have a pho noodles and got the feeling I got caught with heavy intake of msg, I drink 2l of water within a hr.

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