How much water should you be drinking to stay safe in the heat?

The upcoming heat is a good reminder that we should start preparing our bodies for these conditions. Knowing how much water your body needs is key.

See the full forecast on the temperature map.

The key to coping with increased temperatures is drinking plenty of liquid. The extra glasses of water do not only cool us down but also keep us hydrated and keep our body functioning the way it should. But how much should we be drinking in the heat?

On a normal day, adults should be drinking around 6 to 8 cups of water each day, however, if you are in the heat you will become dehydrated quickly. Therefore, you should drink more than 8 cups per day.

Moreover, it is not just the heat that makes us dehydrated, but also our sweat. If you notice you are sweating a lot, you should replace the fluid you are losing. This could be done by having drinks with electrolytes in or are low-sugar.

For those of you that do not like drinking so much, though, there are also alternatives. Certain foods like cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce are also good to eat on a hot day as they contain over 95 percent water.

In addition to drinking more, it is men that will need to consume more liquid than women as they have a higher level of body fat. Athletes or those who exercise will also need to up their liquid intake to minimize the risk of dehydration and other heat-related health issues.