In the household that I grew up in, drinking enough water was forced upon us. My mother was a health fanatic, who was constantly stuffing vitamins, vegetables and protein smoothies down our throats. She attended health seminars whenever she could and usually would come home with the same advice. Drink more water. People do not drink enough water. Water refreshes and water even heals. Studies have shown that drinking more water improves overall health and appearance. Many people think, if I feel thirsty, I find a fountain or a hose and I drink. Sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes your body needs more water and you may not even realize it. When doubt, drink more water…at least 6-8 glasses a day.
The following is taken from an article written by Erica Florentine, Read the entire article SOURCE: Bustle.com
“Six Weird Signs, You’re Dehydrated” By Erica Florentine
1. You’re Not Sweating During Workouts
According to J. Timothy Lightfoot, Ph.D., director of the Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance at Texas A&M University. Lightfoot explained to Huffington Post that when our bodies become too hot — as they do when we’re exercising — they release the extra heat through processes like sweating in order to keep our core temperatures regulated. If there isn’t enough water in our bodies to produce sweat, we miss out on that regulating system. Not only will we stop sweating, but we put ourselves at risk for over-heating as well, as the heat stays trapped inside the body and core temperatures rise.
2. Your Oily Skin Now Has Dry Patches
According to The International Dermal Institute, when skin gets dehydrated, it’s lacking in moisture and not oil. That said, those with naturally oily skin can certainly see dry patches if they aren’t providing their bodies with enough moisture, like water.
3. Your Breath Has Taken A Turn For The Worse
According to Everyday Health, our saliva has antibacterial properties, therefore preventing the bacterial overgrowth that leads to bad breath. If we’re not drinking enough water, our bodies can’t make enough saliva.
4. You’re Constantly Hungry
RD Alissa Rumsey, spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, spoke to Health and noted, “Mild dehydration is often masked as feelings of hunger, when really your body just needs fluids.” According to Health, this happens due to confusion in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates both appetite and thirst. That mix up in the brain can find you reaching for a carton of ice cream instead of what your body really needs: water.
If you’re closely watching your nutrition (or even if you’re not), try drinking a glass of water before you head to the snack cabinet, and then listen to your body. Has that hunger feeling faded? If so, it was likely thirst giving you those pangs in your stomach, and not actual hunger.
5. You Seem To Always Be Getting Sick
Chronic dehydration plays a role in how well your immune system performs. According to Healthline, every organ in the body relies on water, so when you’re not getting enough to replace the fluids you naturally lose (e.g., via sweat, urination, etc.), your cells aren’t getting the nutrients and minerals they need. This leads to a lack of necessary moisture in your mouth, nose and throat — which is vital preventing sickness.
6. Despite Dieting, You’re Still Gaining Weight
According to LIVESTRONG, dehydration slows the metabolism, negatively affects your body’s ability to burn fat, and encourages excess calorie consumption (as we discussed with the hunger vs. thirst point above). It can also contribute specifically to belly fat, LIVESTRONG noted.
As we can now see more clearly than ever, staying hydrated is beneficial for our bodies in more ways than one. By sticking to the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day you can avoid any of the above, strange signs of dehydration. If you need some tips on accomplishing that total, check out these sneaky ways to drink more water every day.
