How much do you really need. I used to drink a lottt but kinda stopped. It seems to be the internet thing now though. Drink water or your heart will explode!
Sedentary = around a gallon
Active = probably a gallon and a half or more depending on activity level, weather
There are probably better books, but there's an 'okay' book I've read called
Your Body's Many Cries For Water and it's fairly informative if you buy the 3rd edition. Here's an excerpt from the 1st chapter of the book:
"Water has a firmly established and essential hydrolytic role in all aspects of body metabolism--water-dependent chemical reactions (hydrolysis).The property of water drives all chemical reactions that create life. Water is the source of energy for the creation of life"
Going to run through the book and provide cliffs of the importance of water. The body needs adequate amounts of water for (according to the doctor and sources cited in book):
-Energy metabolism / helps manufacture ATP and GTP
-Maximizing enzyme and protein function / efficiency
-Ensures nerve cells are healthy and functioning optimally (Nerve Cells = 85% water)
-Histamine (Neurotransmitter) formation and release
-Removal of acidic toxic waste of metabolism
-Helps prevent a myriad of disease: Heartburn, Rheumatoid Pain, Anginal pain - Heart, Headaches, Leg pain while walking, High Blood Pressure or Hypertension
-Lubricating joints, all tissues, lubricating spinal vertebral joints, water is necessary for spinal health
-Preventing chronic fatigue syndrome
-Hormone health
-Renin-Angiotensin System
-Water, salts, potassium together regulate the water content of the body
There's probably a lot more to be said and in a lot more depth than what's presented in this particular book, it was first published in 1992 and the third edition of it was printed in 2008. But that's enough info for me to continue taking water intake seriously. From age 13 until now, if I had to average it all out, I probably drink about a gallon of water each day. For several years I was drinking nearly 2 gallons like it was clockwork. I would always drink like 5-8 cups during work, gallon during workouts, several cups after workout. It's my view that if you're exercising regularly you should treat water intake seriously. Make it a habit to drink 1.5 gallons or what is needed. Even if sedentary, the body still calls for a great amount of water for maintaining one's health