Researchers wrote in the Harvard Health Letter that needing eight glasses of water per day, as a rule, is a myth.

Says Who?

No one’s quite sure who announced that eight glasses of water is what we need. We do know that the Institute of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic agree that we need approximately that much “liquid.” But we can get hydrated from the water that’s in our fruits and vegetables, too.

Setting it Straight

Perhaps because less than 10% of adults actually eat enough vegetables is how supplementing with a glass of water came about. Another misconception is that we need to drink all of that water at once. In fact, we need to hydrate evenly throughout the day. Paying attention to our bodies can inform us when we’re thirsty. Needless to say, on hot days or when we’re exerting a lot of energy, more liquid intake will be necessary.