WATCH: Staying hydrated now means staying slim. How much should you be drinking?

Had your fill of fresh pressed juice? Already over bone broth? Well, the newest miracle health elixir is here- and it’s still: water. A major new report from University of Michigan Medical School shows that staying hydrated means staying slim.

The effects on weight had less to do with how much water someone drank- and more to do with how well they were hydrated. Everyone has different individual hydration needs so it’s not as simple as saying “Drink 8 glasses of water a day.” 

Researchers say their findings suggest that hydration deserves much more attention when it comes to addressing obesity on a population level. Being dehydrated hurts your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. More research is needed- Are people with higher BMIs more likely to be inadequately hydrated or are those who stay well hydrated just less likely to be obese?

Of course if your mouth is dry, have a drink. But a lot of people mistake the feeling of thirst for being fatigued- or hungry. So have a glass of water before squeezing in that nap or reaching for a snack. And if you make that snack a water-rich food, like cucumbers, raw carrots, watermelon, broccoli, or plums- all the better. Drink and eat up!