Your body contains more water than anything else, about 60% of your total body weight. Water helps regulate your body temperature, transports nutrients, and helps remove waste. Every day you lose water when you breathe, sweat, urinate, and defecate, and that water needs to be replenished.

How Much Water Do You Need?

The big question is how much water do you need to drink every day? Although that's a simple question, it doesn't have an easy answer. It depends on some environmental and physical factors that can change every day.

Also, it's not just the water you drink—about 20% of your water intake comes from the foods you eat. The remaining 80% comes from beverages, including water, coffee, tea, milk, and anything liquid. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy reviewed years of research evidence on adequate water intake and has the following recommendations:

General Hydration Guidelines Men : 13 cups (about 10.5 cups from beverages)

: 13 cups (about 10.5 cups from beverages) Women : 9 cups (about 7 cups from beverages)

: 9 cups (about 7 cups from beverages) Pregnant women : 10 cups (about 8 cups from beverages)

: 10 cups (about 8 cups from beverages) Breastfeeding women: 13 cups (about 10.5 cups from beverages)

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

Most people can gauge their water intake by looking at urine color. If you're getting enough water, your urine will be pale yellow, and you'll urinate several times a day. Urine color doesn't work for everyone.

Taking dietary supplements that contain riboflavin will make your urine bright yellow, and certain medications can change the color of your urine, as well. And if you have any kidney problems or other health conditions you should talk to your health care provider about how much water to drink.