You may drink water simply because you've heard that you're supposed to. But do you know about all of the amazing health benefits that come along with it? Every part of your body needs water to function properly. It can help you maintain a healthy body weight, energize your muscles, keep your skin clear and keep your digestive system running smoothly, among other benefits. On the flip side, not getting enough water can be extremely detrimental and dangerous to your health.
Here are 10 signs that your body is desperately trying to tell you to drink more water:
1. You Have a Dry Mouth
A dry mouth may seem like an obvious sign that you're in need of a little hydration, but be careful which beverage you reach for. While juice or soda may make you feel better temporarily, sugary drinks won't do the trick long-term. Water is your best option to keep your mouth and throat feeling moist longer, and to get rid of that icky dry mouth feeling.
2. You Have Dry Skin
Your skin is your body's largest organ, and it needs water just as much as the rest of your body! Dry skin is one of the first signs of dehydration. When your skin is dehydrated, it negatively affects your body's ability to get rid of excess dirt and oil, which can lead to acne breakouts.
3. You're Super Thirsty
A dry mouth is one thing, but being overly thirsty is the feeling that you absolutely need water, right away. If you've ever been hungover, you probably know the feeling — alcohol dehydrates the body. Dehydration causes your brain fluid levels to become unbalanced. When you get this feeling, it's your body screaming at you to help get it back on track!
4. Your Eyes Feel Dry
Yes, the amount of water you drink even affects your eyes! Without water, your tear ducts dry up, leading to dry, bloodshot eyes. If your eyes feel dry, itchy or irritated, chances are, you need to guzzle a few glasses of water.
5. You're Experiencing Joint Pain
Water is extremely necessary to keep your bones and joints working properly. It helps nutrients move through your blood and into your joints, and it allows waste products to move out of your joints. Without water, your joints can become dry and rub together, causing pain.
6. Your Muscles Are Depleting
Your muscles are comprised mainly of water, so it's important to drink water before, during and after a workout. Water helps to decrease the chances of cramping while working out, and it also helps to dilute soreness and inflammation in your muscles, after your workout. Muscles are controlled by nerves, so without proper water and electrolyte balance, your muscle strength and control will become impaired. Dehydration can prevent muscles from contracting properly, which reduces muscle tone.
7. You Get Sick Often
A steady flow of water throughout the day allows your body to continuously flush out toxins and transport nutrients to where they are needed. If you aren't drinking enough water, toxins can sit in your system, causing an illness or a virus. Hydration has a huge impact on your immune system!
8. You Constantly Feel Fatigued
Water makes up the majority of your blood and other body fluids, and even mild dehydration can cause blood to thicken. This forces your heart to pump harder to carry blood to your cells and organs, resulting in fatigue. If you feel tired, drained or a little "out of it," these are most likely signs that you're not getting enough water.
9. You Experience Hunger, Even After You've Eaten
Dehydration can cause your body to become confused and receive mixed signals about hunger. You may think you need to eat when really you just need water. This is how not drinking enough water can lead to overeating.
10. You're Suffering From Digestive Problems
Without enough water to flush toxins and waste from your body, the contents of your colon can actually dry out and get stuck, causing constipation. Water is a natural lubricant that keeps things moving softly and smoothly.
If you think your body needs a hydration boost, check out the video below for David Wolfe's ultimate hydration recipe!