

Yes, it’s possible that dark yellow or amber urine could mean that you’re dehydrated, but there’s no solid science to suggest that the color, alone, should prompt a drink. (Those who are older, in their 70s and 80s, may need to pay more attention to getting sufficient fluids because the thirst sensation can decrease with age.)Īnd despite popular belief, don’t rely on urine color to accurately indicate your hydration status, Dr. Or you may need to alter your intake if you’ve been ill, with vomiting or diarrhea.įor most young, healthy people, the best way to stay hydrated is simply to drink when you’re thirsty, Dr. Someone with a medical condition like heart failure or kidney stones may require a different amount than someone taking diuretic drugs, for example. The amount of water you need in a day will also depend on your health. A 200-pound person who just hiked 10 miles in the heat will obviously need to drink more water than a 120-pound office manager who spent the day in a temperature-controlled building. Unique factors like body size, outdoor temperature and how hard you’re breathing and sweating will determine how much you need, she said. We’ve all been taught that eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day is the magic number for everyone, but that notion is a myth, said Tamara Hew-Butler, an exercise and sports scientist at Wayne State University. How much water do I really need to drink? And you don’t need to chug glass after glass of water throughout the day to maintain it. Topf added, the most important measure of hydration is the balance between electrolytes like sodium and water in the body. Nor is it correct that most people are walking around chronically dehydrated or that we should be drinking water all day long.įrom a medical standpoint, Dr. Staying hydrated is definitely important, she said, but the idea that the simple act of drinking more water will make people healthier isn’t true. But that interpretation “has been completely blown out of proportion,” said Kelly Anne Hyndman, a kidney function researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
