8 Signs You're Not Drinking Enough Water
You should drink 6 to 8 cups of water a day for your body to be in optimal condition and to avoid health issues. This article tells you about some signs that your body may give when you’re not drinking enough water.
Your health can suffer when you’re not drinking enough water. Sufficient hydration is essential for a good quality of life.
Specifically, when you’re not drinking enough water over a long period, your major bodily systems may fail. This in turn causes a domino effect of negative reactions related to health.
Believe it or not, between 75 and 80% of your body is made up of this vital liquid. Water is essential for brain and circulatory health, among many other things.
Fortunately, it’s a natural resource that’s easily within reach for most of us. In fact, we can even get it by eating various fruits and vegetables.
However, many people don’t pay attention to their daily consumption and don’t realize how important it is for physical and mental well being.
Sooner or later, symptoms of dehydration appear along with its damaging effects.
1. Dry mouth
A sticky, unpleasant feeling in your mouth is the result of decreased saliva production due to dehydration.
Drinking water acts as a lubricant for the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat, which is essential to keep them healthy and infection-free.
2. Feeling thirsty
Alright, this one may seem a bit obvious. After all, feeling thirsty is the most immediate sign of low fluid consumption.
It’s also often a symptom of a hangover, since alcoholic beverages dehydrate the body and lower energy levels.
The brain sends these warning signs to get the fluid it needs for optimal functioning.
3. Dry eyes
Daily consumption of water doesn’t just help lubricate the mouth and throat, but also the eyes and other important parts of the body.
The lack of fluids can decrease effective oxygenation and in turn make tear ducts dry up.
4. Joint pain
The cartilage and spinal discs that protect joints are made up of 80% water.
That being said, your daily water intake is indispensable for avoiding bone friction and joint injury.
When your body is hydrated, your joints are kept lubricated and ready to handle the impact everyday movements have on them.
A water deficiency increases the risk of trauma, premature deterioration, and chronic conditions such as arthritis.
5. Muscle mass decreases
Muscles are also primarily composed of this essential fluid. This means that the less water there is in the body, the more muscle mass you can potentially lose.
Water intake before, during, and after exercise is essential to prevent dehydration and to keep muscles healthy.
This keeps circulation going and prevents damage caused by inflammatory processes from overexertion.
6. If you’re not drinking enough water, you might increase your risk of illness
In addition, drinking water is an essential habit for supporting the purifying processes of the body that help remove toxins.
Without this fluid, organs do not function well. In fact, the immune system is significantly weakened.
As a result, the body is made more susceptible to attacks of bacteria and other germs that can cause serious illness.
Check out this article: 9 Reasons to Drink Cucumber Water Every Day
7. Feeling of tiredness
It’s also vital for good circulation and optimal cell oxygenation throughout the body.
Dehydration doesn’t just affect blood flow in the arteries. It also impedes the oxygenation of the brain.
This leads to constant episodes of fatigue, mental weakness, and other related symptoms that keep you from getting your work done.
8. Digestive disorders
The digestive system suffers disturbances when it doesn’t get enough fluid throughout the day.
Water supports intestinal movement and is necessary for regular waste removal.
It acts as a moisturizer for ingested food and thus helps eliminate waste that the body doesn’t need.
Without proper hydration, the mucous lining of the stomach becomes thinner. This increases the risk of heartburn, reflux, and gastritis.
As you can see, water plays an extremely important role in the body. Drinking enough water is a healthy way to protect yourself from all kinds of problems.
In general, try to drink 6 to 8 cups a day, or enjoy it in smoothies, teas, and organic foods.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
Murray, B. (2007). Hydration and Physical Performance. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. http://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2007.10719656
