Troubling Signs you Need to Drink More Water

A few years ago I gave up soda – it wasn’t a hard transition for me, but then at the time, I really wasn’t drinking soda quite as much as other people do.

We never bought soda for the house, the kids don’t drink soda, and my very own husband (when given the chance), will opt for bottled water over soda any day. That’s just what he does.

Soda is so tremendously bad for you, and diet soda is no better — it has no nutritional value, it dehydrates you and is basically full of sugar that our body really doesn’t need.  Here in Arizona the weather is so warm that hydrating essential to keep your body functioning properly. Except … that most people I see have a soda in hand when water should be their go-to.

Ensuring that you consume plenty of water each day is essential for your body to operate correctly. If you don’t, you run the risk of dehydration – and there are many signs that your body shows when it’s not getting the hydration it needs..

Signs that you may need to hydrate

If you are looking for a cheap and easy way to transform your health, this might be the perfect way to get started – after all, water is FREE, and all it requires is your commitment to drink up each day.  Here are some basic signs that may need to hydrate:

Yellow pee: Such an obvious sign of dehydration – if your pee is yellow, you are not drinking enough water to flush out the waste efficiently from your body. When you are hydrated, the ratio of waste to water is higher and thus, your pee is yellow.

You are hungry: If you find yourself snacking constantly all day, it might be time to grab a glass of water.  If you find yourself hungry and snacking frequently, try picking up a glass of water – you might just find the urge to snack go away. Not drinking enough water can lead to overeating, since a hungry belly can often times be a sign that you simply need more water.

You are constantly tired: If you find yourself nodding off. . it might be time to pick up a glass of water.    This is how it works…

When you are hydrated, water moves into your bloodstream from your cells to maintain the right amount of blood to regulate blood pressure.   When you are dehydrated, your blood volume (then blood pressure…) drops, reducing the amount of oxygen content in the blood. 

So next time you feel like you are nodding off, guzzle a glass or two of water.

Cramping in your muscles: This was ONE thing that made me start drinking more – I have the WORST leg cramps when I don’t drink water.. and they always happen at night when I’m sleeping!  

When your sodium and potassium are low, you will experience muscle spasms, and that is because that electrolyte balance is necessary for proper function.

Headaches:  Do you find yourself with frequent headaches? IF you do… grab a glass and drink up.  Because your body (and muscles) rely on that potassium and sodium to operate effectively, when you are dehydrated, your body sends signals that you need to drink up. While cramping is ONE way it sends you a signal, headaches are another way. 

You are often sick:  Water helps push things through your body and continuously flush out the bad – it also helps your body transport nutrients to the proper areas.  If you are not hydrating, then these toxins will sit in your body and contribute to sickness. Hydration, therefore, plays a huge role in keeping your body healthy and well.

How much water do you need?

While most people recommend 8 glasses of water each day, you can find out what you really need to drink by taking your body weight and dividing it in half – then, divide by 8 to find out how many glasses of water you should be drinking each day.

Try to reach for water when you crave soda, lemonade or other sugary drinks and encourage your kids to do the same. If you find water gets boring after some time, then add fresh fruit to liven it up.

You can also add Vitality Oils to your water (1 drop per 8 oz and always use glass) – Spearmint and Lemon, even Grapefruit, are all wonderful ways to lighten up boring water with something fun that will also benefit your health, too. 

Find out how you can score a FREE vitality oil and Ello Glass Water Bottle and join our Drink Water Facebook Group this coming July.