How much water is in the human body?
Ayus installs and maintains 4-stage water filters at home, hidden under the kitchen sink. We spend all day talking about water, so we also like to know how much water there is in us.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), in the article "The Water in You", about 60% of an adult’s body is water. But the proportion is not the same everywhere.
- Brain and heart: about 73% water.
- Lungs: about 83%.
- Muscles and kidneys: about 79%.
- Skin: about 64%.
- Bones: about 31%.
How much water should I drink a day?
The European reference comes from EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority. In 2010, it set adequate intake values for total water for adults: 2.0 L a day for women and 2.5 L a day for men.
Total water means all water: what you drink and what comes from food, such as fruit, vegetables and soup. According to EFSA, about 70 to 80% comes from drinks and the rest from food. In practice, that works out at around 1.4 to 1.6 L of drinks a day for a woman and 1.75 to 2 L for a man.
Are these values the same for everyone?
No. They are reference values for adults in normal conditions. EFSA notes that needs change with temperature, physical activity and other circumstances. On hot days or after exercise, it is natural to need more.
Children and pregnant or breastfeeding women have their own values. If you have questions about your own case, talk to your doctor.
How to drink more water every day?
Knowing how much to drink is easy. Remembering to drink is the hard part. A few simple ideas:
- Leave a glass or a reusable bottle on your desk, where you can see it.
- Always keep a jug of water in the fridge.
- Drink a glass of water with every meal.
- Add a slice of lemon or orange, or a few mint leaves.
- Drink water you enjoy: when it tastes good, you want more.
What does Ayus have to do with this?
Let us be clear: the Ayus filter does not treat or prevent anything, and mains water in Portugal is already within the law. What we do is make it nicer to drink.
The filter removes the chlorine taste and smell, holds back microplastics and adds magnesium. The water comes out of the 3-way tap whenever you need it, with no bottles to carry. If the taste of tap water is what makes you drink less, see how the filter works or book a visit to taste the difference.
