Temps may be hitting record highs this summer, but you might not even notice the toll summer is taking on your body. Dehydration, which we often associate with thirst, dark urine, and tiredness, can actually take many forms. Here are some unexpected signs that it may be time to drink up:
Sugar cravings. If you’ve been catching yourself reaching for sweets, it may be because dehydration has depleted your body’s glucose levels, prompting you toconsume more nutrients. However, giving into this urge can make things worse, as unneeded sugar exits the body through our kidneys, taking water with it. Solution? Quench your thirst with water, not soda or juice.
Headaches. Ever drink too many beers and wake up the next morning with a pounding headache? (You don’t have to answer that.) A throbbing cranium is a symptom of alcohol-induced dehydration, but you can also get one from a general lack of fluids.Dehydration causes our blood volume to drop, leading to lower blood and oxygen flow to the brain, which causes headaches.
Muscle cramps. Though study findings have been mixed, some research has shown that there is a link between dehydration and muscle cramps. When you’re low on liquids, the fluid outside your muscle cells decreases and nerve endings are pushed together, which can lead to twitching and cramping.
Bad breath. Anyone handed you an Altoid recently? Dehydration, which causes a decrease in saliva production (a.k.a dry mouth), can lead to stinky breath. When you don’t have enough moisture to wash away bacteria, it remains trapped and concentrated in your mouth, and may even multiply more easily.
So how much should you be drinking? Your best bet is to discuss your needs and lifestyle with your doctor, but this will give you a rough idea:
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