When I ask patients about their water intake, they tell me that the daily average is two cups, despite the fact that many of us have been advised to drink six to eight glasses of water each day. For optimal hydration, males typically require 3 liters (12 cups) of fluid per day, while females require 2.2 liters (9 cups) per day. Not getting enough fluids can cause mild dehydration, which can cause a variety of symptoms.
10 Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water
1. Your Urine is Dark Yellow
This is often the first sign that you are not drinking enough water. Generally, urine should be a light yellow-amber colour. When a person does not consume enough water, the kidneys excrete a “higher concentration of waste products in the urine, including dead blood cells, toxins, proteins and other products that need to be removed from the body”, resulting in darker urine.
You may also notice darker urine after consuming certain medications, B-Vitamins, beets, blackberries, asparagus or food colouring. If you notice a temporary change in urine colour, first consider if you’ve consumed something that would alter the colour of your urine. Next, increase your water intake and observe if your urine colour becomes lighter. If your urine stays dark for a prolonged period of time, it could be a sign of more serious health concerns such as hepatitis or gallstones.
2. Your Urine Output is Reduced
Most people urinate between 6-7 times within a 24-hour period. When you don’t drink enough water, there is less fluid available to replace the fluids being excreted from the body. The kidneys attempt to retain as much fluid as possible to prevent dehydration. If you urinate less than 6 times a day, consider your water intake and increase if necessary.
3. Constipation
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation, and constipation can often be resolved by increasing water intake. If you are not fully hydrated, your body will try to absorb water from wherever it can, including your colon. A sufficient amount of water in the large intestine is crucial for soft, easy-to-pass stools. Naturally, a lack of water will lead to harder stools that are difficult to pass.
To prevent or treat constipation, ensure you are consuming adequate amounts of water in addition to increased fiber found in fruit and vegetables. Constipation can also be the result of physical inactivity, hypothyroidism, intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis, food sensitivities and stress. If you are drinking adequate water, consider other causes of constipation.
4. Your skin is dry and wrinkles are more defined
Most women rely on expensive moisturizers to keep their body soft and smooth. Some pay high prices for procedures to reduce and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. Prior to spending money, increase your water intake. According to Dr. Diana Howard, dehydration can lead to irritated, inflamed, itching and sensitive skin. In severe cases, skin can flake and scale or become severely red with cracks and bleeds. Simultaneously, when your skin loses moisture, the cells shrivel, causing wrinkles to appear more defined and making the skin look older. The best way to revitalize your skin is to nourish it with water.
5. Hunger and Weight Gain
The body is so intrinsically smart but has a glitch – it does not know the difference between hunger and thirst. The hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating hunger and thirst, often gets confused, causing hunger pangs in response to thirst. Reaching for a snack instead of a glass of water leads to excess caloric intake and weight gain.
If you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight, make sure you are consuming adequate amounts of water. If you feel hungry, grab a glass of water before going for a snack and wait 10-15 minutes to see if the hunger has passed or if it’s still present. If you are still feeling hungry then it is true hunger and time for you to eat.
6. Thirst and Dry Mouth
Believe it or not, feeling thirsty for water is a sign that you are already slightly dehydrated. A dry mouth often occurs with thirst and signifies that the mucus membranes in the body need hydration. The only way to resolve thirst and a dry mouth is to drink water throughout the day.
7. Headaches
When you don’t drink enough water, your body will attempt to preserve and reabsorb water from all of your tissues to compensate for the lack of fluid intake. Subsequently, your brain tissue loses some of its moisture and shrinks, pulling away from the skull. Pain receptors are triggered resulting in a headache. Simultaneously, when you don’t drink enough water, blood volume drops, reducing the amount of oxygen being carried to the brain. Blood vessels in the brain dilate in response leading to swelling and inflammation, intensifying the headache.
8. Fatigue
According to a 2011 study, mild dehydration can cause fatigue, tiredness and low energy. When you’re dehydrated and the blood volume decrease, the heart has to work harder to push oxygen and nutrients through the body. Next time you start to feeling tired, skip the coffee (which is dehydrating!) and drink a glass of water instead. Coffee, tea, soda and sports drinks are not substitutes for water.
9. Joint Pain
Water acts as a lubricant to the joints, allowing two bones to slide over each other as the joint moves. When the body doesn’t receive enough water, the joint becomes nutrient deficient leading to damage of the cartilage cells. If you are chronically dehydrated, your cells will eventually reach a tipping point and the cartilage will degenerate beyond repair. If you suffer from joint pain, be mindful of your water intake and increase if necessary.
10. Weak Immune System
Dehydration increases the concentration of toxins in the blood, which can weaken the immune system. Optimal hydration is essential in assisting in the elimination of any illness byproducts and helps the immune system ward off infection.
You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty
Many people believe that all liquids provide hydration but the truth is, not all fluids are hydrating! Some beverages, such as coffee, pop and juice can actually dehydrate the body because of their caffeine and sugar content (13). According to Dr. Batmanghelidi, a Medical Doctor and expert in the healing powers of water, many ailments classified as “diseases” positively respond to increased water intake. Based on his research, diabetes, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity, cardiovascular disease, asthma and joint pain, can all be cured by simply increasing your water consumption.
If you want to optimize your health, remember that small changes make big differences. Become mindful of your water intake and ensure you are consuming adequate amounts. If you’re having a hard time getting all your water in, keep a glass water bottle with you at all times and consider setting an alarm every hour as a reminder to drink! You can also invest in a neat new device called Pryme Vessyl.
Sources:
HH Mitchell, et al. 1945. The Chemical Composition of the adult human body and its bearings on the biochemistry of growth. http://www.jbc.org/content/158/3/625.full.pdf
Freedom Network. 2005. http://www.std-gov.org/symptoms/dark_urine.htm
Bladder and Bowel Foundation. 2014. www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org
Dr. George Krucik, MD, MBA. 2016. What Causes Decreased Urine Output. 34 Possible Conditions. Healthline. www.healthline.com/symptom/decrased-urine-output
Arnaud, MJ. 2003. Mild Dehydration: A Risk Factor of Constipation? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 57 Suppl 2:S88-95 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14681719
Mayo Clinic Staff. 2016. Diseases and Conditions: Constipation. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/basics/definition/con-20032773
Dr. Diana Howard. 2016. The Top Three Causes of Dry, Dehydrated Skin. The Dermal Institute. http://www.dermalinstitute.com/us/library/13_article_Why_is_Adult_Acne_on_the_Rise_.html
Esther Crain. 2016. Hidden Causes of Hunger. http://www.health.com/health/m/gallery/0,,20920951,00.html#
Dana Benson. 2016. Thirsty? You’re already dehydrated. Baylor College of Medicine News. https://www.bcm.edu/news/sports-medicine/thirsty-you-are-already-dehydrated
Mayo Clinic Staff. 2016. Symptoms Headache. http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/causes/sym-20050800
Ganio, M.S. et al. 2011, Mild dehydration impairs cognitive performance and mood of men. British Journal of Nutrition. Nov; 106(10):1535-43
Josef Tyls, PhD. 2016. Are you chronically dehydrated? http://www.alive.com/health/are-you-chronically-dehydrated/
F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. 2008. Your Body’s Man Cries for Water. www.watercure.com