Who Needs More Water: Men or Women?

The short answer: men.

We’re all made up of at least 60% water. So since men usually weigh more than women, they need to drink more water.

A Mayo Clinic study suggests men should drink about 125 ounces of water a day and women, about 90 ounces. Other researchers point to a simpler formula; drink half of your weight in ounces. So a 200 pound man would need to drink 100 ounces of water; a 130 pound woman, 65 ounces.

That said, other factors determine how much water you should be drinking.

Men and women, when you’re working out, up your intake of water.

For women, health cycles affect hydration needs. If your estrogen and progesterone levels are high, you’ll lose plasma volume - the watery part in the blood. Since that transports cells and proteins through your body, you’ll need to drink more water to compensate for that.

With less water in their bodies, older women and men are more prone to dehydration. That can cause muscle and mobility problems, fatigue and even dizziness. If you’re doing less strenuous exercise and relaxing more, you might not realize you’re thirsty. But you probably are and with no work deadlines and time commitments, you might need a gentle reminder. So, live the good life and stay healthy.

Who Needs More Water: Men or Women?

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