Water acts as a lubricant for joints and organs and is essential for proper functioning of our senses. For example, hearing waves are transmitted by fluid in the inner ear. The average adult needs two to three quarts of water under normal temperatures to support daily activities. If it's a hot or humid day, or if you're physically active, you will need more. Prolonged exercise without sufficient fluid replacement can lead to dehydration.
Warning signs can include headaches, muscle cramps, confusion and lethargy.
Since the summer is almost upon us and exercising in the heat requires additional hydration and caution, here are a few things to keep in mind. Exercise generates body heat that is released in the form of sweat, so without sufficient fluid replacement you can become dehydrated. Your body's daily water loss, on average, comes to more than two quarts of water. That's where the adage of drinking eight eight-ounce cups of water comes from to meet your daily needs. So before you even start to exercise, your body needs eight to 10 cups of water to function at optimum levels.