Groggy? Wrecked? Unwell? There may be a VERY simple explanation
Many of us go through our everyday lives feeling ‘not quite right’. We’re more tired than we know we should be, we have ‘brain fog’ and find it hard to concentrate or we’re lacking in energy. And more often than not we ignore it and put it down to the stresses and demands of everyday living.
But for many of us it’s simply a case of dehydration, an important medical issue that affects a surprising number of people every year.
Now you might think ‘dehydration’ sounds a bit dramatic – surely you only get dehydrated without water on a desert island?
Not so.
A recent study carried out in the US found that a crazy 75% of people were dehydrated. It can happen so easily – neglecting to drink water, drinking too many caffeinated drinks or a high-sodium diet can all contribute to life-limiting dehydration.
Here are 10 tell-tale signs you (or the kids) need to drink more water:
1. ‘Brain fog’
Does your brain often feel fuzzy and woolly? Have you put the remote control in the fridge one too many times? Well the brain is made up of 90% water, so it stands to reason that if you’re not topping it up regularly you’re going to suffer from a lack of concentration, poor decision-making abilities and forgetfulness.
2. Headaches
Dehydration actually decreases the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain, causing migraines and headaches. Next time you’ve a headache, try treating it with water. If it goes away you’ll know it was dehydration-related. Clever.
3. Bad breath
Ain’t nobody got time for manky breath. When you’re lacking water, your bod produces less saliva, causing more bacteria to grow in the mouth. If that isn’t a good reason to start gulping back the H2O we don’t know what is.
4. Constipation
How can we put this delicately? Hmm, well water…. moves things along, lubricating the digestive tract and keeping it clean. And we (and our bowels) thank it for that noble and selfless service.
5. Bloating
If you’re eating healthily and exercising yet your belly still looks bloated the chances are you’re – yes you guessed it – dehydrated. The less water you put into your body the more it grabs on to the water you do have and stores it (clever really) leaving you wondering in frustration why in the name of all things holy you can’t close your jeans.
6. Fatigue
Do you feel like conking out around lunchtime? Frustrating isn’t it – you think you’re doing everything right by eating well and getting enough sleep – so why do you feel so tired? We’re sure you see a pattern here but the answer is very possibly a LACK OF WATER.