Water, like food, is something that cannot be lived without. In fact, your body is composed of approximately 75% water, which must be replenished throughout the day. While you can get some liquid from the foods you eat, it is also important to drink enough of it on its own. This is due to the fact that it regulates body temperature, prevents constipation, transports nutrients to other parts of your body, and protects your joints.
Essentially, it ensures that everything in your body functions properly. You can now imagine what would happen if you did not drink enough of it. Your body will send out certain signals indicating that it requires more water. We'll tell you what those indicators are.
1. You've Got a Dry Mouth
A dry mouth is sometimes indicative of a lack of water in the body. Xerostomia is the medical term for this condition. Xerostomia, on the other hand, is a clinical condition caused by an underlying cause rather than a condition caused by low body water content.
Drinking a sugary soft drink will not solve the problem, though it may provide temporary relief. These sugary drinks make you thirsty and may cause you to drink more water because they do not quench your thirst. If you drink enough water each day, the mucous membranes in your mouth will stay moist and enough saliva will be produced. Long-term dry mouth can increase the risk of dental problems such as dental caries and gum infections.
2. You're Constantly Hungry
It is common to feel hungry when all you need to do is drink water. It's possible that the rumbling in your stomach is caused by thirst rather than hunger. Because dehydration slows metabolism, it may have a negative impact on the body's ability to burn fat. Not to mention that when you're dehydrated, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates our nervous and endocrine systems, may confuse thirst with hunger. It's the brain confusion that makes you want a bag of chips instead of some plain old zero calorie water.
3. You Could Have Bad Breath.
Because of that onion or garlic-based dish you had for lunch, your breath may stink. However, you may want to drink a glass or two of water to increase saliva production in your mouth for fresher breath. Dehydration can lead to halitosis because bacteria in the mouth multiply as the mouth dries out.
Drinking a few glasses of water between meals can help flush out food particles and keep the proper amount of saliva in your mouth. When you don't drink enough water, your saliva production slows down. Because it has antibacterial properties, it may cause bacteria to grow faster inside your mouth. What are the causes of your bad breath? Have you ever found yourself in an embarrassing situation as a result of it?
4. You've Got a Lot of Headaches
If you suffer from migraines or headaches on a regular basis, it's possible that you're not drinking enough water. While it is unclear why one correlates with another, it is believed that blood volume decreases when you are dehydrated. Because blood is not reaching the brain at the rate it should, this can reduce the brain's oxygen supply. This causes the vessels to dilate and cause pain.
5. Your urine is dark.
The color of your pee can reveal a lot about your overall health. Healthy, hydrated pee should be light yellow or clear, indicating that it has been adequately diluted. If it's medium yellow, dark yellow, or orange, it's because your body isn't getting enough water, causing your urine to become more concentrated. Ample water consumption also means you'll have to go to the bathroom less frequently.
6. Muscle Cramps
Sweating, especially during vigorous exercise, can cause a drop in sodium levels. When you begin to lose water during a high-intensity sweat session, there is only so much fluid to go around. As a result, the body must prioritize where the body's remaining fluid should go. Most of the time, your circulatory system triumphs, forcing your muscles to take a back seat. When muscles are not adequately surrounded by water and sodium, they become extremely sensitive, resulting in involuntary muscle contractions or spasms.
7. Having difficulty sleeping
Sleep can be disrupted if you do not drink enough water. Dehydration can cause snoring and muscle spasms in your sleep, both of which can wake you up in the middle of the night. Drinking water right before bed, on the other hand, can wake you up by forcing you to use the restroom, disrupting your sleep cycle. Instead, drink the recommended amount of water for your body weight before 8 p.m. This way, you'll be thoroughly hydrated while also having expelled all of the urine from your body before retiring to bed.
8. Moodiness
It's not surprising that mood swings occur when we don't drink enough water because our mental faculties are impaired. Dehydration impairs a variety of bodily functions, including rational thinking. When you don't drink enough, a simple "hello" from a coworker can knock you off your game.
9. Dry Skin
Dry skin is an important symptom of not drinking enough water. When you have enough water in your body, the moisture on your skin is maintained. It is natural for skin texture to change as the weather changes. For example, in the summer, when it is humid, the skin may remain soft, whereas in the winter, it may become dull and dry.
However, many of us are unaware that skin dryness can be caused by a lack of water in the body. You can keep the natural moisture in your skin and keep it soft and full of life by reaching for a glass of water and drinking enough of it every day.
10. Stomach Issues
People who do not drink enough water may experience one of two types of stomach problems. For starters, they may have digestive issues. A sufficient amount of water in the body is necessary for healthy acid production in the stomach. It aids in the digestion of foods by breaking them down into more digestible forms that can be absorbed by the bowels. Heartburn can also be caused by a lack of water.
Constipation is the second issue. The majority of the stools we pass every day contain not only digested food but also water. It is very easy to pass if the water content is sufficient.
However, a lack of it can result in hard, difficult-to-pass stools. Water acts as a lubricant, and drinking more of it will help you maintain regular bowel movements and avoid constipation.
11. Your Joints Are Stiff
Did you know that water makes up nearly 80% of your joint cartilage and tissue? It is critical to have healthy cartilage and synovial fluid, which is the fluid within the joints, in order to maintain their normal range of motion without causing pain or disruption. Joint pain is one of the symptoms of a lack of water. The bones that form the joints do not rub against each other when there is enough of it.
Remember that cartilage and fluids act as shock absorbers and allow for smooth, pain-free motion. Drinking enough water every day ensures that your joints stay healthy and that regular activities like walking, running, and climbing stairs go off without a hitch.
12. You have a lack of energy.
Do you feel so tired all the time that you want to take a nap every day and would if you could? Including more water in your daily routine can help you avoid napping. This is because dehydration reduces blood circulation, which causes your body to conserve energy.
When your muscles do not receive enough oxygenated blood, they can cramp and feel fatigued when you exercise. If you notice this happening during your workout, don't push yourself. Stop, drink some water, and take a break if necessary.
13. Muscle loss
The muscles that surround our bodies are mostly composed of water. Muscle spasms and muscle mass loss can result from a lack of it. You may notice that no matter how many weights you lift, you are not making optimal gains and may even be losing muscle mass. A glass or two before and after your workout can help you rebuild your muscles.