Turns out there are many ways to quench thirst besides good old H2O. Yep, you can eat your way to healthy hydration.

Need a Refill? 

You don’t need to tally glasses or cart bottles everywhere you go to stay well-hydrated. 

No doubt you’ve heard that you should drink eight glasses of water each day. Water is essential for almost every vital bodily function. So how much—and how often—should you be drinking? Here’s a quick refresher on satisfying your thirst. 

Pick up on your body’s cues. The best way to know if you’re getting enough is to listen to your body. If you’re thirsty, you need hydration. As a general guideline, women need about 2.7 liters a day, compared to about 3.7 for men. If you’re more active or live in a hot climate, you may need more than someone who lives somewhere cooler or who doesn’t exercise as much. 

Think outside the glass. Water doesn’t have to come from just the tap. You can also use water-rich foods to help meet your needs. Fruits and vegetables are packed with H2O—especially melons, grapefruit, berries, tomatoes, peas, and zucchini. Even the water in coffee and other beverages counts. Just be careful that your drinks aren’t also adding in lots of extra calories. 

Give it some flair. Perhaps you find water tasteless and boring. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t forgo it altogether. Try the spa approach and spruce it up with herbs such as mint or basil. Or add in fruit. But don’t just drop in a wedge of lemon or lime! Try a few cubes of cut-up watermelon, strawberries, or mango to add a burst of flavor to your cup. 

Need Another Reason to Drink Up? 

Water’s benefits go beyond essential bodily functions. There are other perks of staying well-hydrated. It promotes healthy-looking skin. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkling, making water an important tool in the fight against signs that give away our age. Water also puts cravings in their place. Our bodies often mistake thirst for hunger. By staying hydrated, you may save yourself calories your body isn’t actually craving. A good rule of thumb: If you ate within three hours and feel hungry, try drinking water and waiting 20 minutes to see if you’re still hungry.