Everyones heard the old refrain — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Turns out that’s not entirely accurate. The Mayo Clinic recommends about 13 cups a day for an average male and about nine cups a day for the average female. But the actual amount of water a person should drink in a day can vary based on wher you live, how much you weigh and what kind of lifestyle you lead.

And a 2016 study finds that our bodies have built-in mechanisms that stop us from drinking water when we dont really need it. If youre dehydrated and your body needs water, the fluid flows effortlessly down your throat. If you are overhydrated, its a little more difficult to get the water down, giving you a cue that maybe you dont need to keep drinking. So say researchers at Australias Monash University, who say their study challenges the popular 8-glasses-a-day belief.

"If we just do what our body demands us to well probably get it right — just drink according to thirst rather than an elaborate schedule," said Associate Professor Michael Farrell, in a statement. His research team had volunteers rate what they felt when they took drinks of water. Those who had recently had a lot to drink said it took more effort to swallow than those who were mildly dehydrated.

"This was compatible with our notion that the swallowing reflex becomes inhibited once enough water has been drunk," Farrell said.

Water makes up 60 percent of our bodys weight and is absolutely imperative for our organs to function. Since we are constantly losing water through sweat, urine and even our breath, drinking enough water is crucial. If you become dehydrated, you will lose energy and become nauseated, headache-y, and tired. Even mild dehydration can impair your cognitive performance — especially with mental tasks involving attention, executive function and motor coordination. Severe dehydration can even send you to the hospital so drinking an adequate amount of water is crucial to maintaining your health on a daily basis.

When you need to drink more

If you exercise, you are losing more water than the average person. Therefore, its important to drink water before, during and after your workout — an extra 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups should be sufficient for a short workout. If youre doing prolonged exercise, like running in a marathon, you have to drink much more than that.

In the summertime or if you live in a warm climate, you’ll also need to drink more water than the recommended amount. Thats because heat can make you sweat more and lose fluids faster.

Youll also need to drink more water than is usually recommended if youre sick with a fever, vomiting or diarrhea. If all youve got is a pesky cold, drinking water can also help keep your nasal passages hydrated and prevent you from getting sicker.

Another instance wher you need to drink more water? If youre pregnant or breastfeeding. The Mayo Clinic recommended that a pregnant woman drink at least 10 cups of water a day and a nursing woman to drink 13 cups of water a day. Thats because nursing drains your body and can leave you dehydrated if youre not drinking enough. Not to mention that adequate hydration while breastfeeding can ensure an ample milk supply. When I had my last child, the hospital lactation specialist told me to drink one cup of water each hour of the day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. — thats a lot of water!

How do you know if you’re drinking enough? You can count the cups you drink or you can just peek in the toilet after you pee — you should be peeing a clear or light yellow liquid. If your urine is dark yellow or cloudy, you definitely are not drinking enough.

This is a lot of water to drink for physical health, but drinking water can have an influence on your emotional health as well. A 2014 study published in PLOS ONE found that, if youre not drinking enough water, drinking more water will better your mood and increase general positive emotions. If youre already drinking a good bit of water during the day, keep it up! The same study found that folks who drank a high amount of water over the course of the day experienced a decrease in their happiness levels if they decreased their water intake.
If water isnt your thing, you can also safely substitute juice, milk or coffee for a cup or two a day. Since I was never a major water drinker, I like to combine 1/3 cup juice with 2/3 cup water. My husband says I like to drink juice that way because I grew up on watered-down juice from a can. Maybe. But at least it helps me meet my daily water intake goal!

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