Forget the old “8 cups a day” rule. That’s for your grandma. For a teenager, experts say: Boys need about 3.7 liters (roughly 15.5 cups) per day. Girls need about 2.7 liters (11.5 cups). But wait—that includes water from food! So you’re not chugging that much.
You can also get water from juicy stuff. Watermelon? That’s 92% water. Cucumbers, oranges, even that sad apple in your backpack counts. Funny fact: Pizza is 28% water. Don’t use that as an excuse to eat five slices, but it’s nice to know.
The Gross, Sticky Truth About Dehydration
If you don’t drink enough, your urine turns dark yellow. Like, “oooh, that’s alarming” yellow. It’s your body’s way of screaming, “HELLO! WATER!” Also, you might get a headache, feel dizzy, or—worst of all—your breath smells funky. Dry mouth = bacteria party. Not a fun party.
Another weird one: Teen acne. Yep. Dehydrated skin produces more oil to compensate. More oil = more zits. So if you’re trying to dodge a breakout, drink up. It’s basically a pimple-prevention hack that costs zero dollars.
How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?
