5 signs you're dehydrated and need to drink more water

Drinking water is just as important for your health as eating, so much so in fact, that our bodies are made up of 60% water. Therefore, it’s important to stay hydrated all day long in order to keep our bodies working and running smoothly. But what are the risks of not staying hydrated?

Kidney stones, urinary infections, migraines and even problems with your heart…

How much water should you drink a day?

The website Healthline recommends we drink around 2 litres of water a day. They state:

Health authorities commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 litres, or half a gallon. […]

Most foods are also loaded with water. Meat, fish, eggs and especially fruits and vegetables all contain significant amounts of water. […] Together, coffee or tea and water-rich foods can help maintain your fluid balance.

Of course, this quantity varies depending on the person’s age and how much physical activity they do. For example, older people, infants and athletes need to consume more water than most.

5 signs that mean you’re not drinking enough water

You’re often hungry

If you eat properly but you’re still always hungry, it’s possible that your body is telling you that you need to drink more water. To find out if this is the case, drink two big glasses of water when you’re hungry. If this hunger goes away after 30 minutes, it means you just needed to drink more.

You get headaches

The cells in your body are also made up of water. However, when you’re dehydrated, it can become difficult for your cells to work properly and for your body to send message signals to your brain. That’s when you start to get headaches. Sometimes, instead of taking paracetamol, all you need to do is drink a few glasses of water. Give it a try!

You find it difficult to concentrate

Another consequence of being dehydrated is that you find it difficult to concentrate. If your brain isn’t getting enough water, it will start to work slower as a result. There will also be less fluid in your blood, making it more difficult for the blood to flow around the body. Therefore, you will find it more difficult to think and form clear ideas. Remember to drink often, especially if you’re doing something important.

You don’t go to the toilet very often

Unsurprisingly, if you don’t drink enough water, you’re not going to need the toilet very often. In fact, your body will instead try to keep hold of and conserve the little water that it has. So watch out for this, since it could be a sign that you need to drink more water.

If remembering to stay hydrated doesn’t come very easily to you despite all these warning signs, consider downloading an app that will remind you to drink every hour or so, or maybe think about setting an alarm on your phone.

You have dark urine

Your excrements can tell you a lot about how your body is feeling. Everything from the colour of your nails, to your poo, and urine.

Urine that is dark yellow indicates that you have not been drinking enough water. Ideally, your pee should be clear or pale yellow.

Read more:

⋙ Acne: Does drinking water really help your skin?

⋙ Reusing your plastic water bottles could have disastrous consequences for your health

Sources used:

Healthline: How Much Water You Need to Drink

Loma Linda University Health: Are You Thirsty? 10 Signs You May Need to Drink More Water

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