Another good way to determine your fluid status is by taking a peek inside the toilet after you pee. "If your urine is light yellow, you're probably getting enough fluids. If it's dark or smells strongly, you probably need more water," Levinson says. Show
Here are some subtle signs that you’re not drinking enough water:If you’re not drinking enough water, you run the risk of dehydration. Some of the signs of dehydration are fairly obvious—but others aren't. If you're thirsty, you should drink. That's a no-brainer. But, for some folks, dehydration doesn’t always include feeling thirsty. There are a few other signs of dehydration that aren’t as obvious. 1. You’re feeling super dry. When your body is begging for hydration, the need can manifest in various signs of dryness, including dry mouth, chapped lips, dry skin, reduced sweating, and a lack of tears. 2. You feel faint, light-headed, or you have headaches. Doctors aren't quite sure why, but they think it might be because when hydration levels drop, so does blood volume, which can reduce oxygen supply to the brain, the Merck Manual explains. 3. Your muscles feel weak or crampy. Cramping, muscle spasms, and generally feeling weak or fatigued can all be indications of dehydration. 4. Your breath is randomly stinky. Having bad breath can be a tip-off that you need to sip some water. That goes with the dry mouth thing: Saliva has bacteria-fighting properties; when your saliva levels go down, so does your mouth’s ability to fight odor-causing germs. 5. You feel confused. In addition to the above, confusion and delirium can all be signs of severe dehydration, the Mayo Clinic explains. If you have these symptoms, you should reach out to your doctor immediately. In rare cases, you can also overhydrate.Most people aren’t at risk for overhydration, but it's more likely to occur during endurance activities, like running a marathon. Additionally, overhydration is more likely in older people because kidney function becomes less effective as you age, the Merck Manual explains. (Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and fluids from the body, the Mayo Clinic explains.) Overhydration can cause a condition known as hyponatremia, which happens when the sodium levels in your bloodstream become unusually low, leading to your cells becoming waterlogged, the Mayo Clinic explains. Signs include feeling nauseated, confused, run-down, and irritable. Overhydration can also cause seizures and put you into a coma if it’s not caught in time. For athletes that are worried about overhydration, your best bet is to take strategic water breaks (instead of guzzling fluids to avoid dehydration). The National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) recommends you drink 14-22 ounces of fluid two hours before rigorous activity, rehydrate at least every 20 minutes while working out, then drink some more when you’re done. Those are just general guidelines, so experiment to figure out what helps you feel hydrated enough without feeling too full of liquid. If you’re exercising for an hour or less, water should do the trick, but if you’re going for longer, you might consider a sports drink, NASM explains. Finally, a quick note about the idea that drinking more water can help you lose weight:You may have heard this thrown around from time to time, so we figured we'd clear the air. Staying hydrated is great for all sorts of reasons, from preventing headaches to helping you crush your workouts. But if losing weight happens to be a goal of yours, just know that drinking a ton of water isn’t some magical key to weight loss. That said, for some people, thirst and hunger cues are easy to confuse. If you’re feeling famished and you’re not sure why, using the above methods to determine if you’re getting enough water (like checking your pee) is one step you can take, along with things like making sure you’re actually eating enough and remembering that pandemic stress can naturally have an effect on your appetite (and that there’s nothing wrong with that). Aside from that, you should aim to get enough water because it helps you feel great—end of story. Related:
Water: How much should you drink every day?Water is essential to good health. Are you getting enough? These guidelines can help you find out. By Mayo Clinic StaffHow much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answer. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years. But your individual water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live. No single formula fits everyone. But knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day. What are the health benefits of water?Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 50% to 70% of your body weight. Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, water:
Lack of water can lead to dehydration — a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. How much water do you need?Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water. So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:
These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20% of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks. What about the advice to drink 8 glasses a day?You've probably heard the advice to drink eight glasses of water a day. That's easy to remember, and it's a reasonable goal. Most healthy people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough. But other people might need more. You might need to modify your total fluid intake based on several factors:
Is water the only option for staying hydrated?No. You don't need to rely only on water to meet your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight. In addition, beverages such as milk, juice and herbal teas are composed mostly of water. Even caffeinated drinks — such as coffee and soda — can contribute to your daily water intake. But go easy on sugar-sweetened drinks. Regular soda, energy or sports drinks, and other sweet drinks usually contain a lot of added sugar, which may provide more calories than needed. How do I know if I'm drinking enough?Your fluid intake is probably adequate if:
Your doctor or dietitian can help you determine the amount of water that's right for you every day. To prevent dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. It's a good idea to drink a glass of water:
Should I worry about drinking too much waterDrinking too much water is rarely a problem for healthy, well-nourished adults. Athletes occasionally may drink too much water in an attempt to prevent dehydration during long or intense exercise. When you drink too much water, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water. The sodium content of your blood becomes diluted. This is called hyponatremia and it can be life-threatening. Sign up for free, and stay up
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. Is 4 bottles of water a day enough?We all know that we are supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day, and most of us prefer bottled water over tap. A typical glass of water contains eight ounces, so ideally we should each consume 64 ounces per day which is equivalent to four bottles of water.
Is drinking 2 Litres of water a day enough?So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
Is 6 bottles of water too much?The National Academies of Sciences is another organization that weighs in on the amount of water you should drink each day, stating that about 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters of water for men per day are about right. That would be about 5-6 bottles of water for women and 7-8 bottles for men.
Is 8 bottles of water a day too much?Each body is different, however health experts recommend around 8 glasses of water a day which is around 2 litres. That said, many people believe that we need much more water than that if we lead an active lifestyle, with fitness instructors often recommending 4 litres a day.
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