In order to keep our body running smoothly, we need to consume a certain amount of water daily. 10 Signs that show you need to drink more water immediately.
The composition of the human body
- Kidneys and Muscles-73%
- Blood-83%
- Lungs-90%
When we perspire, urinate and breathe we lose water and need to have our daily top-ups of H2O. Some researchers show that males need to drink around 3 liters of water per day and females around 2.2 liters of water per day, in order to achieve an optimal hydration. If you don’t consume the recommended amount of water, you might dehydrate and experience different symptoms which are related to this.
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Dark, yellow and smelly urine
If your urine is dark, yellow and smelly it means that you are not consuming enough water. The normal urine color is a light yellow and if you don’t have your daily water amount, your kidneys start to produce a higher concentration of waste which includes toxins, dead blood cells, proteins or other products that need to be excreted and consequently, your urine turns dark.
Also, if you consume certain medicaments such as B-vitamins, or vegetables as beets and asparagus your urine can change its normal color. So, if you notice a different color, first consider what you’ve eaten recently and if it can be a food-related change. Then, start with a water treatment. Drink more water and if after this you notice the color is not going back to normal it means that you might be facing some more serious conditions such as gallstones or hepatitis.
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Reduced urine output
The normal urination routine is 6-7 times per day. If you don’t drink enough water, your body I not able to replace the fluids that need to be excreted. Your kidneys start retaining fluid in order to prevent dehydration. If you notice you are not going to the bathroom enough make sure you increase your daily water intake.
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Dry skin and wrinkles
Some people spend a lot of money on expensive skin care products such as moisturizers, in order to keep their skin soft and smooth. There are even expensive cosmetic procedures which people use to eliminate their wrinkles and aging lines. According to Dr. Diana Howard, if you don’t drink enough water, your skin can become severely irritated, itching and inflamed because it loses its moisture. Dr. Diana’s advice is to drink more water in order to revitalize your skin and to make it healthy on the outside and the inside.
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Constipation
Dehydration can cause constipation and this can be resolved by increasing the daily water intake. If you are not hydrated enough, your body starts absorbing water from different sources including the colon. It is essential that there’s enough water in your large intestine, so your stool is soft and easy to pass. Make sure you start eating more vegetables and fruits, so you can increase the amount of water. There are also other factors, such as physical inactivity, food sensitivities, stress, and hypothyroidism, which may cause constipation.
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Weight gain and hunger
Our bodies have a hard time differentiating between hunger and thirst. The hypothalamus which helps regulate our thirst and hunger sometimes gets confused. This can make us think that we are hungry when we’re thirsty. When this happens, we start eating more and this can eventually lead to a higher calorie intake and weight gain. When you are on a specific diet and you are trying to lose weight make sure you drink enough water. Instead of a snack, drink a glass of water when you feel hungry and wait to see if your desire for food has passed. If not, then you have a real need to eat.
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Dry mouth and thirst
If you are experiencing a dry mouth and you are thirsty you might be slightly dehydrated. The only logical solution to this issue is to start drinking more water.
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Fatigue
Fatigue, low energy, and tiredness can be caused by dehydration. Because your blood volume decreases, your heart has to work harder to get oxygen through the body. So, next time you feel tired, instead of drinking coffee, which can dehydrate you additionally, drink a glass of water.
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Headaches
Dehydration can also cause your brain tissue to lose its moisture and to start shrinking, which pulls it away from the skull. In this case, the pain receptors which are on the head are triggered and they cause headaches. Also, your blood volume decreases and consequently, the amount of oxygen which goes to the brain is reduced and this can lead to swelling and inflammation which only intensifies a headache.
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Joint pain
Your joints need lubrication in order to move properly. If you don’t consume enough water your joints can be damaged and chronical dehydration can lead to bone degeneration which cannot be repaired. If you are experiencing joint pain, make sure you increase your water intake and thus protect your bones to become fragile.
- Weak immune system
Once you are dehydrated the levels of toxins in your body increase and this can make your immune system weaker. This is why it is really important to have optimal hydration and to eliminate any illness byproducts which can help our immune system to fight off infections.
Not all liquids provide hydration
According to Dr. Batmanghelidi, some medical conditions, such as elevated blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, obesity, cardiovascular disease and joint pain can be treated with a simple water intake increase.
Once you increase your water intake you will feel great, fit and you will be able to optimize your health. So make sure you keep a full water bottle with you at any time!
