There’s no doubt that water is essential to our survival. (Along with adorable puppies and chocolate, of course.) It also makes perfect sense, considering water makes up 60% of our body weight. This is precisely why it’s so important to drink enough H2O and stay hydrated. Otherwise, you’ll have to face the super weird signs of dehydration — and it isn’t pretty, you guys.
According to MedlinePlus, dehydration happens when your body doesn’t have enough fluid to meet its needs. This can happen after exercising or going outside on a hot day. You can also develop dehydration after vomiting, having diarrhea, or taking certain medications.
Sometimes, it might be the result of simply forgetting to drink enough water throughout the day. Life happens — we know how it is. But if you’re not careful, constantly skipping the H2O can lead to some creepy signs and symptoms.
What’s worse is that you can be dehydrated before you’re thirsty. MayoClinic shares that you might have already lost 1 to 2 percent of its water by the time you’re thirsty. Yikes.
So, why wait? Keep an eye out for the unusual ways your body lets you know you’re dehydrated…
Your breath smells.
As it turns out, eating foods like onion and garlic aren’t the only things that make your breath stink. It can also happen if you’re dehydrated.
Without enough fluids, your mouth can’t produce enough saliva. And while it sounds gross, saliva actually controls bacterial levels in your mouth. The less saliva you have, the more bacteria can grow and cause bad breath.
You crave sweets.
If you’re dehydrated, you might experience a craving for sweets. This is because dehydration messes with the way your body uses glucose, its main source of energy. So, your body will crave fuel in the form of sugary foods.
To top things off, thirst can mask itself as hunger. It’s easy to confuse the two! Try drinking some water the next time you’re hungry. If you’re dehydrated, you’ll feel satisfied. But if you are truly hungry, you still have a hankering for food.
Your head hurts and you can’t think.
Have a headache? Can’t seem to focus? Don’t be so quick to assume that you need caffeine. These signs may point to dehydration.
Your brain, after all, needs water to work properly. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time doing cognitive tasks like paying attention and remembering things. This drop in cognitive performance can happen after losing that 2 percent of water.
Basically, simple tasks like baking or reading will feel like an actual nightmare. Ugh.
Your urine is dark and yellow.
For an easy hydration check, look at your urine. MayoClinic states that a pale yellow shade means that you’re hydrated. On the other hand, if it’s dark and yellow, you need to drink some water.
If your urine is super dark or almost amber, pay a visit to your doctor. This is a sign of severe dehydration.
Your skin is less elastic than usual.
Okay, this sounds super weird, but hear us out. Healthy and hydrated skin will “spring” back when you touch or pinch it. On the other hand, if you’re dehydrated, your skin will slowly bounce back. It might even sag a bit.
Pay attention to your fingertips, too. If you press a fingertip and it stays white without returning to its normal color, you may be dehydrated.
If you notice any of these symptoms, reach for a glass of H2O. Your body will thank you!
