Drinking enough water is one of those fundamental rules of healthy living that should come easily to us. But, for some inexplicable reason, most of us don’t end up drinking even close to the minimum amount of water, that we should be consuming, in a day. You would think it would be the easiest thing to do, but whether it’s getting caught up with work and forgetting, or just being oddly against drinking water, we turn a blind eye to our body’s hydration. We don’t realise how important water is for the well-being of our body, and that’s probably why we ignore these signs of dehydration. If an unquenchable feeling of thirst is not enough to tell you that you’re dehydrated, pay attention to these signs the next time.
You get hungry too often
The lack of water in your body can hinder the functioning of organs like the liver, and prevent the transfer of various nutrients. This thirst often, unfortunately, comes off as a symptom of hunger, which then causes you to eat more. So the next time you’re feeling unnaturally hungry, especially if it’s only been a short time since you last ate, try drinking some water first, before you resort to getting something to munch on.
Your mouth and lips will feel unnaturally dry, and you will have bad breath
Due to your body being low on water, the production of saliva in your mouth is greatly affected. This causes your mouth and lips to feel unnaturally parched. Plus, the lack of the antibacterial saliva cleansing your mouth can lead to an increased growth of bacteria that will cause you to have bad breath. So, drink up!
You’re having pee issues
Probably the most obvious sign of dehydration is having issues in the bathroom. If your pee is darker than normal, or you’re actually barely even feeling the urge, then you are perhaps dehydrated. Pile up on H2O when you feel like this.
You’re often ‘dazed and confused’, can’t concentrate, and feel unusually tired
If you’re not hung-over, and you’re not even having a particularly busy day, but are still having difficulty being ‘present’, it could be because you’re dehydrated. This can literally put your mind and body in a state of low functioning, so reach for that bottle of water next time. Dehydration can also make you feel unusually groggy and lethargic, so pay attention the next time you feel like that for no reason.
Your skin is changing, and not in a good way
If you feel your skin getting drier, despite you moisturising it regularly, you are most probably dehydrated. Plus, if your skin seems less elastic, and stays misshapen when you move it without snapping back to place, it is a warning sign.
Weight-loss is even harder than usual
There’s no denying that losing weight is a difficult process that takes an insane amount of work and commitment. But if you’re doing everything you can to lose weight, but nothing seems to be changing, it could be because you’re dehydrated. Water in your body helps in fat breakdown and the burning of calories, and the lack of water can seriously hinder this processes.
You don’t sweat enough
If you’re someone who sweats a good amount, or if you’re doing a particularly strenuous activity, and you’re not sweating as much as you should, it’s because you’re dehydrated. It’s logical that if enough water is not going in, there’s not going to be much coming out. Sweating is our body’s own heat regulation system, and is facilitated by water. If you’re dehydrated, and not sweating as per normal, your body could get over-heated. Even if you take a sip every five minutes, drink more water.
