You've probably heard the saying that you should be drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water (half a gallon) per day to stay healthy.
But if you're like most people, you probably don't have the time to constantly be refilling your glass if you can even keep track of how much water you've had at all!
However, it turns out that water really is the last thing you should skimp on. After all, with a body that's 75% water, and living on a planet that's also 75% water, water is probably the most important thing out there. Without it, literally everything on the planet would die.
And when you don't get enough water, you could be doing serious damage to your body in ways you might not even realize.
It's estimated that more Americans are dehydrated in some capacity than not. This is due to drinking sugary sodas or caffeine instead of water, and from simply forgetting to get enough water throughout the day to replace what you lose through sweating, breathing, and urinating.
If you feel tired, achy, or dizzy during the day, dehydration may be the cause. In extreme cases, it can even cause you to lose consciousness, which is something that athletes are especially susceptible to.
In fact, you might not even realize that dehydration might be behind a number of health issues, and that some of them can be cleared up simply by incorporating more water drinking into your life.
How Much Water Should You Be Getting, And Why?
The average adult needs about a half a gallon of water per day to keep their body functioning smoothly and healthily.
That comes out to eight 8-ounce glasses a day. If you're very active, pregnant, or ill, or it's very hot out, you'll need more.
Why? Well, simply put, without water, you die.
Water makes up most of your body, including 75% of your brain and muscles and 22% of your bones.
It carries nutrients and materials throughout your body, and keeps your tissues healthy and functioning.
But how do you know if you're getting enough? Learn the common symptoms of dehydration below.
Symptom #1: Headaches And Fatigue
Your brain needs water to function sharply, and without enough, you might find yourself feeling headache pain, dizziness, and a fogginess of the mind.
At just a 2 percent water loss, focus begins to drop.
We often think of food giving us energy, but water is a major source of it, too. Without water, enzymatic activity slows down, making us tired and sluggish.
Symptom #2: Asthma And Allergies
The body loses water through breathing in the form of water vapor (that's why your breath fogs up a window).
When your body is dehydrated, it tries to retain as much water as possible, and does so by constricting the airways, which makes it difficult to breathe.
It also starts producing more histamine, which leads to allergy symptoms, and dried out mucous membranes in the mouth and nose can lead to throats and sinus irritation and infection.
Symptom #3: Skin Problems
Water is the way that your body gets rid of most toxins, sweeping them out through sweat and urine.
The most obvious skin problem caused by dehydration is skin dryness, which can lead to cracking and infections, but also to eczema and psoriasis.
Dehydration can also result in breakouts, as well as a dull, lifeless look to the skin.
Symptom #4: Bladder And Kidney Issues
When you have enough water in your system, your urine is pretty diluted.
When you don't, it's more concentrated. And we don't need to tell you that pee is nasty stuff.
More concentrated urine is acidic and can cause irritation of the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract.
The acidic environment is also attractive to bacteria, and can lead to painful infections and inflammation.
Symptom #5: Joint Stiffness
Your joints work smoothly when they're full of a liquid called synovial fluid, which helps the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons all glide easily and comfortably. And guess what its main ingredient is.
Dehydration also weakens cartilage, which serves as a padding in our joints. When weakened, it makes moving the joints painful and difficult.
Symptom #6: Weight Gain
We've all heard about "water weight" and "retaining water," but drinking a lot of water can help maintain a healthy weight, or even help you lose weight.
When your cells are deprived of energy, you feel tired, and that causes most people to eat food, when they should just be drinking water.
In addition, cold water kickstarts your metabolism (energy again) and gets your body processing food more efficiently.
Symptom #7: Constipation
Water is integral for keeping things moving along smoothly.
Without enough, your body stores up the water it would normally use for smooth passage, making the movement of stool through the colon (and out) slow and blocked up.
Symptom #8: Heartburn
Water essentially dilutes the acidic environment of your stomach. Without enough, the stomach's natural acid can get too concentrated and damage tissue.
This can lead to acid reflux or heartburn, as well as ulcers and gastritis.
Symptom #9: Premature Aging
Picture your body like a plant. Without enough water, the leaves on the plan wither and dry up, giving it an aged appearance.
It's the same thing with your body. Without enough water, your skin and other organs will begin to wilt and age prematurely.
On the surface, it can lead to wrinkles and discoloration of the skin, but it can also lead to internal problems, too.
Do you drink enough water? If not, try replacing soda and sugary juices with plain water, and your body will thank you — by feeling and looking better!
SHARE this important information with everyone you know to keep them healthy.
