It has always been said to drink eight glasses of water for hydration. Some research is now saying this is just a myth. The reason we have been told to drink 8 glasses is because it was easy to remember 8 oz x 8 glasses = your daily water intake.

According to the Mayo Clinic, men should get about 12 cups a day and women about 9 cups a day. Though that seems like a lot of drinking, there are a few alternatives to getting in adequate water amounts. Water comes from other sources, like milk and foods. Some foods to try are:

1. Cucumbers. They contain mostly water, but have other sources of vitamins our bodies need for hydration.
2. Pomegranates are great source of antioxidants and helps aid in the benefits of sunscreens. I never realized the gems these fruits are. But they also can be used for hydration, just like water.
3. Broccoli and spinach are good for so many things. Green vegetables are good for antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. They also are water soluble, which is why they need to be rung out for excess water when cooking.

While eating foods high in water content are good, they still should not replace water consumption. Our bodies need it to flush out toxins. In looking up articles, I found a water calculator that determines how much water we should be drinking. Based on it, if I have a healthy diet, I should be drinking 3 liters. Clearly the 8-glass rule doesn’t apply to me, either.