The old “eight glasses a day” thing isn’t totally made up. It actually comes from a very general guideline that the average person needs about 64 ounces of water daily. But here’s the kicker: that number includes all fluids—your tea, your soup, even that juicy watermelon you snack on.
So no, you don’t have to chug plain water like a contestant in a sad game show. Your body is smarter than that. It gets water from food, from that soda you sneak at lunch, and yes, from the marinara sauce on your pasta.
The real question isn’t “how many cups?” It’s “am I thirsty, and am I ignoring it?” Thirst is your body’s way of waving a little flag that says, “Hey, boss, we’re running low on coolant!”
