Not drinking enough water and other fluids throughout the day can leave you dehydrated, which is one of the most common causes of constipation. This dehydration and lack of extra fluid don’t allow for stools to achieve softness, needed for easy passage of stools.
But how much water should be drunk on a daily basis?
The reality is that there isn’t a simple answer and opinions on how much water we should consume on a daily basis differs.
Some health experts recommend that we consumer 2 litres of water per day, which equates to (eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day). Although this may be true other health experts as part of the NHS advocate that we consume 1.2 litres a day, which equates to (6-8 glasses of water a day), it should be noted that this daily total also includes fluid from food sources, such as fruit. To keep things simple here in the UK considering the beautiful grey, rainy weather it is recommended that for an average healthy person they consume 6-8 glasses of water per day.
Contrary to popular belief caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea can be included in your total daily fluids, despite their diuretic and potentially dehydrating effects.
Moreover, you can adjust the amount of water that you consume on a daily basis based on personal factors such as the amount of exercise you are doing and whether you are suffering from a medical condition or acute illness e.g. a fever. A good marker for whether you are consuming enough water and are properly hydrated, asides from how you feel in yourself is how clear your urine is. If your urine is a shade of yellow, try introducing another glass of water into your daily total until your urine runs clear.
If you are still confused about how much water you need to consume please consult with a healthcare professional, so they can help you tailor your fluid consumption.
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