How Much Water Should I Really Be Drinking?

Key takeaways

• Prioritize daily hydration by monitoring urine color and dryness of skin or eyes.
• Boost fluid intake with water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
• Making sure you drink enough water throughout the day not only supports digestion and circulation, it also aids brain clarity and joint comfort.
• Consult your doctor to assess hydration needs if you’re unsure about your fluid status.

Summary

Staying hydrated is essential for healthy aging, yet many adults wonder, How much water should I be drinking each day? As we age, our sense of thirst can weaken, and changes in kidney function or medications may increase the risk of dehydration. Experts recommend paying close attention to your body’s cues: Check the color of your urine (ideally light yellow), note if your skin or eyes feel dry, and consider water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables as part of your daily fluid intake.

Individual hydration needs vary based on factors like body size, climate and activity level, so let your body guide you. Making water a regular part of your daily routine not only supports digestion and circulation, it also aids brain clarity and joint comfort — key benefits for older adults. If you’re unsure about your hydration status, ask your doctor to review your blood and urine tests to make sure you’re staying healthy.

The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Full Transcript:

[00:00:00] Drinking water isn’t just about quenching thirst. It’s about keeping your whole body running smoothly, from digestion and circulation
[00:00:08] to brain clarity and joint comfort. Hydration is essential to overall health, especially as we age.
[00:00:16] So, we all need to pay attention to this reader’s question: How much water should I really be drinking?
[00:00:23] Our bodies change with age in ways that make it harder to stay hydrated. Our sense of thirst weakens, so we might not feel thirsty
[00:00:32] even when our body needs water. Changes in kidney function as we age affect urine output, and many adults
[00:00:38] also take medications for things like high blood pressure that can increase the risk of dehydration.
[00:00:45] Therefore, it’s not always easy to know when you’re properly hydrated. Now, you may have heard that drinking 8 cups of water
[00:00:52] a day is a good rule of thumb. That’s around 64 ounces or a pitcher of water. But if you’re thirsty, drink more.
[00:01:00] And don’t forget, hydration doesn’t have to be just water. Tea, broth and water-rich foods like fruits and veggies count too.
[00:01:09] Still, even following this guideline doesn’t account for factors like individual body size, climate and activity, which
[00:01:17] all can affect hydration levels. Meaning that the amount that works for one person might be too much
[00:01:24] or not enough for someone else. So I tell my patients, let your kidneys guide you on how much to drink.
[00:01:30] For example, when you go to the bathroom, is your urine very dark or is it clear? If you’re hydrated, it should be light or pale yellow.
[00:01:38] If your urine is dark and you’re not going to the bathroom very often during the day, that’s a sign you need to drink more water.
[00:01:45] The same goes for when a patient says, “My skin is dry,” “My eyes are dry and itchy,” or “My stool is hard.”
[00:01:51] This could be your body’s way of saying it needs more hydration. Another easy way to check if you’re getting enough water is through
[00:01:58] regular blood and urine testing. Your doctor can look at things like kidney function and fluid
[00:02:04] levels to see if you’re dehydrated. Just ask them about your hydration level if they don’t mention it. Bottom line, making water part of your daily routine is more than smart.
[00:02:13] It’s essential to your health, so cheers to drinking more water. Your body will thank you.
[00:02:20] For more advice like this, please check out Ask Dr. Adam at aarp.org/AskDrAdam