The “64 Ounces of Water” Myth

The importance of drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day is a widely known basic health tip. But according to Dr. Melissa Edwards, that advice is simply folklore, with no scientific evidence to back it up.

Managing intake of fluids can help overcome incontinence. Dr. Edwards suggests that instead of striving to drink a fixed amount of water each day, women use their thirst and the color of their urine to determine how much water they should drink. If you’re thirsty, drink. If you’re not thirsty, don’t drink unless you want to. If your urine is clear or light yellow, you’re properly hydrated. If it’s dark yellow or amber, you should drink more water.