subject: Discover 8 Signs That You May Be Dehydrated [print this page] As the human body is made up of 70% water it plays a major role in maintaining the health and functioning of the body. Drinking enough liquids is important to maintain enough levels of water in the body for it to function properly. Most people only drink water when they feel thirsty such as a dry mouth or after physical exercise. However, feeling thirsty could mean something else other than a lack of water.
People who suffer from diabetes often feel thirsty. The reason why diabetics feel thirsty all the time is because they have very high blood glucose levels. Another common reason for feeling thirsty is due to lack of essentially fatty acids in the body. These essential fatty acids are very effective at maintaining the optimum levels of water in our bodies. People lacking in essential fatty acids cannot effectively regulate the amount of water needed and therefore, they feel thirsty. If you are deficient in these essentially fatty acids then you can increase your intake by eating more nuts, seeds and oily fish such as mackerel.
If you are not sure if you are drinking enough water then the following symptoms will help you gauge whether you need to drink more H20.
1) Feelings of thirst throughout the day even after drinking water
2) Suffer regularly from constipation
3) Feeling tired and a general lack of energy
4) Urinating very often throughout the day and night time
5) Having dry itchy, cracked skin
6) Dull dry and frail hair
7) Having problems with focusing and concentration on the job at hand
8) Joints that feel sore and achy
Another good indicator if you are drinking too little or too much water is to check out the color of your urine. Your urine can give away a lot of information to help you determine if you are dehydrated. For example, when you go to the toilet for a number one check the color of your urine. If your urine is a dark yellow color this is a good indicator that you are not drinking enough water. If your urine is very clear like water then this is a good indicator that you are drinking too much water. The ideal color of your urine should be a light yellow color.
Studies have revealed that the recommended daily intake of water should be approximately six to eight 250 millilitres of water. The best water to drink is filtered water.