Did you know that most people believe at least one health myth without realizing it’s actually a myth? What about this one?– “If you swallow gum it will take 7 years to digest.” That’s a myth! And we want to crack the case for you on another major myth!

“We should all be drinking eight 8 oz glasses of water a day.”

Heard that everywhere? Well we have too and we’re here to give you the facts. Drinking 64 oz of water a day isn’t the magic number for everyone. We’re not sure where this whole recommendation came from but let’s clear it up!

Each person’s fluid requirements vary based on their body size and on activity factors (like exercising and sweating). But generally, your fluid needs in ounces are roughly half of your body weight in pounds. So if you weigh 160 pounds, half of that is 80, so you need 80 ounces of fluid a day. Let’s say you’re a 140 lb female – you should be consuming 70 oz. of fluid a day.

That being said, your total FLUID INTAKE doesn’t need to include JUST water. This can include tea and other drinks as well. And in fact, many foods add to your fluid needs. If you eat the recommended amount of fruits and veggies, which are typically 80% water or more, you can meet many of your fluid requirements through food! (Note that protein foods like meat have practically no fluid.)

So next time you hear someone ask “Are you getting your eight glasses of water a day.” If you’ve been eating lots of fruits and veggies and drinking some beverages including water, you can actually say I’ve had my fluid intake for the day! (FYI– Don’t get us wrong—we always encourage increasing water intake since many people don’t get enough due in part to a diet high in meat and protein and low in produce. Plus, water helps to flush toxins out of your body and can assist with weight loss. However, we wanted to share the facts about fluid requirements.)

What are some health myths you’ve heard?