10 Signs You're Not Drinking Enough Water

By Viroon on 07 May 2020

Senior Creative Editor

Does your mum always nag at you about drinking water? I'm sure you heard this a zillion of times, drink more water and remember to hydrate yourself.

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But do you why is it important to drink enough water? More than half of the human body consists of water. You lose water throughout the day, through your breath, sweat, urine, and bowel movements. If you live in a hot climate, like Singapore, you will lose even more fluid. If you don't get enough water, you could become dehydrated. And it will impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.

Scroll on to take a look at the signs to check if you're drinking enough water!

#1 Your Skin Is Dry

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Dry skin is one of the earliest signs that you are not drinking enough water. Your skin needs to stay hydrated all the time, and a lack of water will affect your body's ability to sweat and eliminate the excess dirt and oil. Drinking water will ensure that your skin stays hydrated and healthy all day long.

#2 You Feel Fatigued & Lethargic

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If you feel fatigued and sluggish even after having a good night's sleep, chances are you are not drinking enough water. A lack of properly hydrated blood leads to a lack of oxygen being brought throughout the body. The lack of oxygen leads to lethargy - coffee won’t help in the long run, so drink more water.

#3 You Experience Hunger Pangs More Often

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Do you still feel hungry even after a full meal? Well, it is most probably because you are not drinking enough water. When your body is dehydrated, it might think that it needs food, causing you to crave for that midnight snack. So try drinking a cup or two after every meal before running to get a snack.

#4 You Get Sick More Often

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Drinking water is essential in filtering and flushing out the toxins in your body. So if you get a headache or feel dizzy often, you probably need to drink more water.

#5 You Have Dry Mouth & Lips

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When you're dehydrated, saliva production decreases, leaving your mouth and lips feeling dry. Dry mouth can also make your breath bad because bacteria have the chance to linger longer.

#6 You Have Bad Breath

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Next time you notice your breath smells, you may need to reach for a glass of water instead of mints. Staying hydrated is one of most basic ways to avoid bad breath.

#7 You Experience Reduced Urination & Your Pee Smells

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How many times do you go to the restroom a day? If you’re not taking a trip to the restroom 4-7 times a day, you’re probably not drinking enough water. The colour of your urine is a another way to tell whether you are drinking enough water. If it is dark yellow or dark brown, you are definitely dehydrated. Not forgetting, a lack of water makes your pee smell nasty - like ammonia. In extreme cases, dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections, in which case you should consult a doctor right away.

#8 You Have Constipation

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Nobody wants to deal with digestion issues. Research has shown that dehydration contributes to constipation in some people, so drinking more water may help make things, ahem, move smoothly.

#9 You Feel Dizziness or Lightheadedness

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Dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty concentrating, and delirium are all signs you need to take a few gulps of water. Again, the body expels fluids every day through sweating, urination, and other bodily functions.

#10 You Constantly Feel Thirsty

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Do you feel thirsty even though you just had a glass of water? Frequent excessive thirst or thirst that can’t be quenched occurs when you lack the proper amount of fluids for your body to function properly.

The rule of thumb is, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. So keep well hydrated by drinking plenty of water, even before you begin your outdoor activity. You've probably heard the advice, to drink six or eight 250 mL (8 fl oz) glasses of water or other fluid every day. But some adults may need more or less, depending on how healthy they are, how much they exercise, and how hot and dry the climate is. You may sometimes need to drink more water than usual if you:

- Exercise intensely, especially in a hot climate.
- Are sick, such as with the flu, or have a health problem like a urinary tract infection.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Use this water intake calculator to approximate the amount of water you need to consume in a day!