9 Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water 💦

The most common skincare tip I think we have all heard before is – ‘Drink More Water’!!

Not only does water benefit our skin, it helps our body function better, and basically survive. The average adult body is made up of between 55-60 percent water, which is why it’s so important to replenish and refresh these vital stores.

If our body does not get enough water it sends us warning signs to help us get back on track and get hydrated. But what are these warning signs?

Here are the top 10 signs that you are not drinking enough water:

1.Dry skin that doesn’t improve with lotion

It’s normal for our skin to change with the seasons. In winter months, we may find that our skin seems dull and lifeless. Dry skin that lacks sebum (oil) should normally respond to the application of oil-rich products. In these situations, applying copious amounts of moisturiser is often enough to improve the situation. If, at any point in the year, your skin stays dry and chapped despite being slathered in healing lotions, you may want to grab a drink of water (or several).

2. Dry, sticky mouth and excessive thirst

It feels a bit obvious to point out the fact that if you haven’t been drinking enough water, your mouth and tongue may be extra dry and sticky, but some people may genuinely miss this sign. Did you know that being excessively thirsty is actually a symptom that you’ve been dehydrated for a while. In both cases, grab a glass and start replenishing any lost fluids (especially since desert-like conditions in your mouth can cause a serious case of bad breath!).

3.You’re dealing with a headache

It’s one of the worst feelings. Your head is throbbing and, with each passing minute, you can feel it getting worse. It makes it hard to concentrate on anything, and your patience begins to run thin. Fortunately, drinking more water could be enough to not only prevent these painful episodes, but also cure them.

More often than not, headaches are actually a common sign that someone is experiencing mild to moderate dehydration. In fact, an inadequate intake of water can trigger a migraine! Remember to avoid sugary or sports beverages, which can worsen dehydration in this case.

4.You’re tired all the time

Pay attention to your routines to make sure that you are getting enough sleep every night. If you are resting well but still feel sluggish and tired all of the time, you might be dehydrated.

Fatigue can seriously affect your sense of well-being and ability to concentrate, and it can leave you feeling clumsy and prone to accidents. Clearly, no one wants to feel this way, but fortunately, things could be improved simply by sipping on the right amount of H20 throughout the day.

5.You’re gaining weight

Believe it or not, an expanding waistline can be a sign that you aren’t drinking enough water. Studies have shown that drinking as little has 500ml (about 17 ounces) of water can boost your metabolism by up to 30%. It’s not surprising, therefore, that many health and wellness experts include an increase in water consumption among their tips for losing and maintaining weight.

Along those same lines, experts believe that even mild dehydration can send mixed signals to the brain and make you think you are hungry when what you really need is some water. Drinking one to two glasses before mealtime can fill you up and prevent you from eating when your body just needs more hydration. (Ah, no wonder most supermodels are always carrying a bottle of water around….)

6.You’re coping with constipation

This might be TMI, but if you’re having a hard time going to the bathroom, you just might need to increase your water intake. Biologically speaking, your body needs fluids in order to pass waste through your digestive tract, so if you haven’t had enough to drink, things are going to get a little backed up. In fact, dehydration is a leading cause of chronic constipation.

The best thing you can do is get into the habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day to prevent digestive woes. After you’ve increased your intake, you should notice an improvement in your bathroom activities.

7.You’ve had a urinary tract infection

Anyone who has ever had a urinary tract infection will probably say that it was one of the most uncomfortable, unpleasant experiences in their life. UTIs are caused by a variety factors but a major cause is dehydration. Drinking water helps to flush bacteria from our bladders, thus preventing infection from setting in. Some warning signs that our water intake is too low include dark coloured urine or a decreased need to urinate at all.

8.You feel irritable and moody

In a bad mood? This may shock you, but a simple glass of water might be all you need to turn things around. Some research has shown that just mild dehydration can lead to neurological changes that affect our ability to focus and can cause irritability.

Even more shocking is that you only need to be 1 percent below your optimal level of hydration to feel these negative effects. So, next time you’re feeling cranky and can’t understand why, pour yourself a nice tall glass of water (or two!) and let your mood improve.

9.You’re having muscle cramps

Having muscle cramps can be annoying, frustrating, and painful. Apparently, our blood circulation slows down when we drink too little water. As our bodies compensate for the lack of hydration, fluid is moved away from our muscles in an effort to protect our vital organs. Things can be exacerbated further if our sodium and potassium levels begin to change due to sweat loss. This is why it’s crucial that we consume enough water every day, but especially in hot weather and when we are exercising.

How many of the above signs do you have rubies? It’s so important to keep hydrated, and we know it can be hard in the colder months but it will be worth it, we promise.

Cheers to that (with a glass of water of course!)

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