Have you ever been at a social event and your best friend or spouse had something stuck in their teeth? It’s suuuuuuperrrr noticeable, but you don’t want to embarrass them by pointing it out in front of everyone. So, you try and discretely let them know by giving them a little nudge or making eye contact and pointing at their teeth… But they’re just not taking the hint.
The same thing happens with your body when you’re dehydrated. We all need water to survive, but most of us aren’t getting enough of it. Our bodies are trying to tell us – but we’re not taking the hint. If you’re wondering if you could be dehydrated, here are three unusual ways your body may be trying to let you know:
1. Your Breath
We all have bad breath from time to time (hello mornings!). You may also notice bad breath other times, like after you eat a tuna sandwich or if you’re having sinus problems.
But another major cause of bad breath is reduced saliva.
Saliva has a powerful cleaning element to it that helps reduce bad breath. But, when you’re dehydrated, your body produces less saliva. And when you’re low on saliva, bacteria can grow, and bad breath can flourish.
2. Your Skin
If you walk down the beauty section of a store, you’ll see shelf after shelf lined with lotions. Their labels tout about how moisturizing and hydrating their creams are. It may lead you to wonder if there’s a difference between the two. The answer is yes.
So, how do you tell the difference between dry skin that needs moisturizing and dehydrated skin that needs water?
Well, dehydrated skin occurs when there’s a lack of water in your skin. When it comes to dry skin, however, water may not be the problem. Dry skin is a particular skin type (like oily or combination skin), so it takes on a flaky, sometimes rough look.
One quick way to tell the difference is the pinch test:
- Pinch a tiny bit of skin on your chest, cheek, or back of your hand. Hold it for a few seconds and release.
- If your skin snaps back to normal, you’re probably not dehydrated.
- If your skin stays “tented” up, or is slow to return to its normal position, you’re likely dehydrated.
You can try this out on different parts of your body if you like.
3. Your Sweet Tooth
Having an insatiable craving for something sugary? Before you reach for that ice cream scoop, try drinking a glass of water.
When your body is dehydrated, your organs – which use water – have a more difficult time releasing glycogen (stored glucose) into the bloodstream for fuel. That’s why dehydration may cause an increase in sugar cravings.
The Bottom Line Is to Drink Up!
If you struggle getting in enough water, we have you covered! Here are three simple ways to rehydrate in no time.
- Drink even when you’re not thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty, it could already be too late.
- Take a breather on drinks that don’t hydrate. The major offenders are soda, coffee, and alcohol.
- Add celtic sea salt to your water. Salt helps the body to better absorb water so that it stays optimally hydrated and for longer periods of time. (However, if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney problems, let’s talk first before you try this.)
Ever since we were children, we heard about how our bodies are 60% – 80% water. But as adults, it’s easy to forget how important H2O is for our health. The good news is – it’s never too late to start upping your water intake.
Try out one of the above tips and start replenishing your body today!
