So the question is: "What are the symptoms of dehydration?".
Here are ten signs you're not drinking enough water.
Number 1: Constant Thirst.
OK, so feeling thirsty sounds like an obvious place to start.
But did you know that feeling thirsty is actually
a result of specific hormones being released?
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
is responsible for regulating the amount of water in your blood.
When you don't drink enough water and you begin to become dehydrated,
ADH is released by the pituitary gland.
It signals the kidneys to conserve more water as the blood is filtered
and the brain to create a sense of thirst, prompting you to drink more water.
So by the time you actually feel noticeably thirsty,
your body has already begun the process of guarding itself against dehydration.
Number 2: Dark Colored Urine.
I mentioned the kidneys a moment ago.
one of the biggest roles of the kidneys is to filter the blood and remove toxins
and waste products.
These are then removed from the body, along with excess water when we urinate.
If you're not drinking enough water, the kidneys will return more water
to the blood to help maintain your fluids and electrolyte balance.
That means that your urine will contain less water
and a higher concentration of the toxins and waste products.
Not only will you need to go to the bathroom less often,
but you will also notice that your urine looks more concentrated, a darker color
and smell more strongly.
Number 3: Poor Skin Health.
Not drinking enough water will also have an effect on your skin.
If you become dehydrated, you may notice that your skin will start to look dry,
flaky and any lines and wrinkles will become more pronounced.
These are all a result of your skin cells not getting sufficient water.
Dehydrated skin actually loses some of its elasticity.
A simple test for dehydration is to pinch the skin
on the back of your hand and quickly release it.
If your skin does not immediately fall back into place
and instead leaves a crease,
it's an indication that you're dehydrated and need to drink more water.
Let's not forget how important water is when it comes to removing toxins
and waste products from your body.
If you're not drinking enough water, you may notice the effect toxin buildup
has on your skin in the form of acne and pimples.
Number 4: Persistent Bad Breath.
Another unpleasant warning sign that you're not drinking enough
water is if you develop persistent bad breath.
Proper hydration helps your salivary glands to produce enough saliva,
which plays an important role in managing the bacteria in your mouth.
If saliva production is slowed through dehydration, bacteria in your gums
and between your teeth can thrive and, if left unchecked, can lead to chronic
bad breath.
Number 5: Constant Hunger & Sugar Cravings.
Water plays a key role in your body's ability to convert glucose into energy.
As a result of dehydration, you may feel more hungry
than usual and experience frequent sugar cravings.
If you notice that despite eating, you still feel hungry,
you may actually be dehydrated.
So perhaps pour yourself a glass of water rather than reaching for the cookie jar.
Number 6: Dry Eyes.
When your body isn't getting enough water,
your tear ducts will begin to dry up and won't be able to keep your eyes moist.
As a result, your eyes will become irritated.
Your eyes might appear bloodshot and red.
Having dry eyes is not a very pleasant feeling
and is another warning sign of dehydration that you shouldn't ignore.
Listen to your body and drink more water if your eyes feel tired and irritated.
Number 7: Muscle Cramps.
During exercises like distance running, if your sweat rate (the amount of water
your body loses through sweat per hour) significantly exceeds the rate at which
you take on water or isotonic sports drinks, you will become dehydrated.
There are various potential reasons for muscle cramps,
one of which is dehydration due to the electrolyte imbalance it causes.
So if you experience muscle cramps?
Be sure to ask yourself
whether you've been drinking enough water throughout the day.
Number 8: Headaches.
If you've ever done a hard workout, then suffered from a headache later in the day.
It's probably because you didn't drink enough water
to replace the water your body lost through sweating.
When your body is severely dehydrated,
your brain can temporarily contract slightly from fluid loss.
This causes the brain to pull away from the insides of the skull,
causing pain and resulting in a dehydration headache.
Once rehydrated, the brain returns to its usual state, relieving the headache.
Number 9: Poor Concentration & Brain Fog.
While severe dehydration can lead to headaches, milder
cases of dehydration can lead to reduced cognitive performance.
If you're not drinking enough water, your brain won't function
as sharply as when you're properly hydrated.
If you're dehydrated,
it becomes harder for your blood to carry vital nutrients and oxygen to your brain.
As a result, you may well experience difficulty in concentrating
and will experience lower mental alertness and brain fog type symptoms.
Number 10: Mood Swings.
In addition to the effects I just mentioned, that dehydration has on
your brain, it can lead to a general sense of irritability and unease.
After all, nobody enjoys feeling lethargic, unfocused and brain foggy.
In fact, research that I'll link to down in the description has suggested
that degraded mood, increased perception
of task difficulty, lower concentration and headache symptoms, all resulted
from just 1.36% dehydration.
So do you think you're drinking enough water?