7 Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water
Water is such an important part of our health. Almost 60 percent of the human body is made up of water. So it’s no surprise how vital it is to keep our bodies in proper operation. Water helps us to detox and flush out toxins, keep weight in check, and produce needed fluids in the body like saliva. Water also makes sure that we can have bowel movements and maintain muscle mass. But when you don’t drink enough water and the body becomes dehydrated, all sorts of things can get out of whack. Dehydration can cause things like fatigue, weakened immunity, and dry skin. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it might be time to up your water intake. Here are 7 signs that you are not drinking enough water.
Bad Breath
Water is responsible for helping the body produce saliva, which is essential in rinsing away bacteria. Getting rid of this bacteria is what helps your gums and teeth stay healthy. So without this enough water to produce saliva, this bacteria can get caked onto the gums, tongue, and teeth. This can cause bad breath on a chronic level.
Fatigue
If you are constantly dehydrated, you can get to a point of a total loss of fluid throughout your body. Lack of fluid can decrease blood volume, which puts extra pressure on the heart to send nutrients and oxygen to the rest of the body. This is what can lead to a state of fatigue, when your body is overworking itself to keep up all of its functions. So drinking enough water is essential to keep your body from getting fatigued.
Constantly Sick
As stated, water is needed to help the body flush out bacteria, waste, and other toxins. It also helps the body to fight off disease and infections. This whole process helps you to get sick less and stay healthy. If you are not putting enough water into your body, you could have a build up of toxins that can lead to frequent illness and sickness. Drinking more water will help you cut down on getting sick and build up your immune system.
Constipation
Water is also important for digestion, keeping everything flowing as it should be. Without enough water intake, your body has to pull water from somewhere. So it does it by pulling water from your stool, which makes stools much firmer and harder to pass through and out. This leads to constipation and irregular bowel movements.
Damaged Skin
Water is responsible for keeping skin hydrated and giving it that plump and moist look. It helps to keep skin looking vibrant and youthful. Without water, skin can begin to lose its elasticity and can become dry and flaky, and eventually start to wrinkle and develop fine lines. Water also helps to flush out toxins in the skin, and thus, reduces acne and blackheads. So increase your water intake if you are looking to improve the condition of your skin.
More Sugar Cravings
When your body is not properly hydrated, it cannot effectively reach stores of glucose for energy. This kicks in your body’s natural craving for sugar and carbohydrates for energy. If you have sudden and uncontrollable cravings for things like chocolate, high-carb foods, candy, and sugary treats, then your body may be trying to signal that it is thirsty. So try to cut back on the sweets and candy, and have some water the next time you get a random and strong sugar craving.
Less Urination
When the body is properly hydrated, you should be going to the bathroom multiple times a day. But during dehydration, the kidneys will try to hold onto as much fluid as possible. So you will urinate much less. Also with dehydration, urine will become darker and have a stronger order with a cloudy appearance. Not having enough water is a risk factor in potentially developing urinary tract infections, as your body cannot effectively clear out toxins and bacteria from your system. A sign that you have reached a more optimal level of water intake is when your urine is a lighter shade and is clear, with much less odor.