Dehydration occurs when the body loses 1.5% or more of its water content and can be caused by exercise, stress, diabetes, menstrual cycles, and low-carb diets. Mild symptoms of dehydration include bad breath, sugar cravings, feeling cold, fatigue, and irritability. More severe dehydration can lead to impaired driving ability, muscle cramps, headaches, constipation, and in severe cases, delirium and unconsciousness. Staying hydrated is important for normal bodily functions and overall health.

1. THE DANGER
OF
DEHYDRATION

2. We all know we should be drinking more water. You
hear it all the time. Lose just 1.5% of the water in your
body and you are officially experiencing mild
dehydration. While most people know things like
exercise and lack of water intake can make you
dehydrated, it can also be brought on by stress,
diabetes, a woman’s menstrual cycle, low­carb diets,
and more. But what actually happens to your body
when it’s dehydrated?

3. Bad breath: Saliva has antibacterial properties, but can
only be produced when your body is hydrated. The
less saliva in your mouth, the more the bacteria can
run wild.

4. It gives you sugar cravings: Particularly if you’re
working out. Dehydration can feel like hunger a lot of
the times. When you’re working out while under
hydrated, your body uses glycogen much faster, which
is what makes you crave sugary food and drinks.

5. It can make you cold: Your body, when dehydrated,
will limit blood flow to the skin, which will make you feel
chillier and make it more difficult for your body to
regulate temperature either up or down.

6. It tires you out: One of the first symptoms of
dehydration is listlessness and inability to concentrate.
Often, first thing when you wake up and feel groggy
even after a good night’s sleep, it’s not more sleep you
need, it’s a big glass of water. It can even hinder your
workout by decreasing performance and coordination.
Some professionals recommend keeping a glass of
water by your bed and drinking the whole thing before
you even get out of bed in the morning. Might keep you
feeling so awake you won’t need your coffee!

7. It makes you irritable: The neurons in your brain that
fire to keep you happy and alert stop firing when you’re
dehydrated, leading to irritability and irrationality.

8. It dries out your skin: That healthy glow only comes
from well­hydrated skin. Lotion is only a small part of
that. The biggest contributor to dull skin, cracked
hands, and chapped lips is lack of moisture within the
body. Drink up and get that youthful, healthy skin!

9. It can impair your driving: Research has recently been
published showing that dehydrated drivers DOUBLED
the amount of mistakes while driving. Closer to legally
driving drunk than anything else, skipping that water
before going on a trip to avoid a rest stop may get you
into an accident.

10. It can give you muscle cramps, headaches, and
constipation: Yikes. Your body needs moisture to make
all of your body function in tip­top shape. The more you
restrict blood flow and slow these processes, the worse
your symptoms become.

11. Delirium and unconsciousness: In the most severe
cases, your body can just shut down.