The human body is made up of about 60% water, making it a very crucial part of your everyday diet. Dehydration can cause many problems. Losing just 1.5% of your body’s water can result in mild dehydration which is not beneficial for your body. Make sure to drink plenty of water to help prevent the symptoms below.
- Tired: If you often find yourself tired in the early afternoon, water may be the answer! Dehydration causes blood pressure to drop, heart rate to increase and the blood flow to the brain to slow down. All of these can result in your feeling tired. Keeping the body hydrated increases your energy levels.
- Chills: If you notice that you are constantly getting the chills you may be dehydrated. When you’re dehydrated your body begins to limit blood flow to skin. Water also holds heat, the loss of it can result in your body becoming chilled faster in warmer environments.
- Headache: Dehydration can result in headaches in various ways. The lack of water can have an affect on the serotonin levels in the body, resulting in a headache. Also the small blood vessels in the brain respond to low hydration levels sometimes leading to dull aches and migraines. If you notice a headache try drinking a glass or two of water.
- Sugar Cravings: Dehydration often sends signals of hunger and cravings for sugar. This usually occurs if you have been exercising. Exercising in a dehydrated state causing the body to use glycogen (stored carbs) at a much faster rate. This causes the body to crave carbs to help replenish the glycogen levels.
- Muscle Cramps: Dehydration causes less blood circulation causing muscles to cramp. Drinking water can help alleviate cramps.
- Constipation: While constipation can often be caused by medications, medical conditions or lack of fiber, it can often result from dehydration as well! Water is necessary to keep things moving through the body. If you are dehydrated, your body withdraws fluid from stool making it more difficult to pass.
- Dizziness: Just like muscles, the brain receives less blood circulation when the body is dehydrated often leading to dizziness. Mild dehydration may also affect your ability to take on mental tasks and cause your mind to feel foggy.