Do you really need to drink 8 cups of water a day?

We all know hydration is important, but is it really true that we need to drink eight cups of water each day? The answer is no, but it's not that simple. The average person needs 8-10 cups of FLUID per day to replace what the body uses each day (in addition to the fluids we ingest through our foods). While water is the recommended fluid, keep in mind that all the fluids you ingest do add up.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that women should aim to get 10 cups of fluid daily, from all sources. And pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding may need more.

But rather than measure out every ounce you drink, keep these two things in mind:

1. Drink when you are thirsty.
2. If your urine is clear to pale yellow, you are probably getting enough fluids.