Dehydration: How much water do you need?

THE Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences published its Dietary Guidelines in 1945 recorded scientific endorsement of water consumptionby recommending that eight ounce glasses of water be taken eight times per day.
Since then, health professionals, beverage companies, and popular media have pushed this mantra for decades. But a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine, Chris Kresser has found the “eight by eight” route may have actually oversimplified matters. While concurring that “there’s no question that adequate hydration is important, as water is a critical nutrient, but the eight by eight guidelines are a gross oversimplification.
"There is no universal requirement for water intake, and your needs will vary widely based on age, gender, body size, health status, and physical activity levels.” He added that numerous environmental factors, such as high temperature and humidity levels, also influence water needs. “Additionally, the eight cups a day recommendation typically does not account for the water content of food. Many Paleo staples are surprisingly high in water; besides just fruit and vegetables, foods like yogurt, salmon, eggs, and potatoes are about 75 per cent water, and four ounces of broiled salmon provides about one half cup of water."
Experts conceed that if a person's diet is full of water-rich fruits, vegetables, and animal products, you may not need as much liquid water as he/she think. And if you’re eating soups or broths, that volume should certainly be counted towards your daily fluid intake,” Kresser said.
Concluding that most people actually consume much more than eight glasses of water per day or less, Kresser suggested that you “let thirst be your guide. Thirst is a sufficient indicator for most people of hydration status. From an evolutionary perspective, thirst has done a pretty good job of enabling us to survive as a species.”
Whether or not you agree with Kresser, health officers have said that keeping yourself hydrated promotes healthier life. According to Dr Lawal Abdul from Abuja, staying hydrated does not necessarily mean you have to drink water. One way to stayed hydrated is to consume more water-rich foods.