You may think you’re drinking enough water, but if you spent most of the day with a cup of by your side, you’re probably more dehydrated than you think. After all, the numbers don’t lie: the human body is about 70% water, and we lose up to two and a half liters of it per day doing just normal activities. Even breathing causes a lot of fluid loss—we exhale around half a liter over the course of the day.
How much water should you drink a day? In order for the fluid balance in our bodies to be maintained, is clearly key. According to the —which uses insights from the U.S.
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine—adult women should take in about 11.5 cups or 2.7 liters of fluids per day; men should get 15.
5 cups or 3.7 liters per day. And even though about 20% of those totals can come from food (fruit, soup, vegetables, etc.
) very few of us really do achieve such high quantities. But how do you know if you really are dehydrated? We asked , a specialist in dermatology, proctology, and nutritional medicine to share her insights. Here, she tells us the seven most common signs you’re not drinking enough water.
7 Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water A very typical is—obviously—experiencing the feeling of thirst. This, along with a dry mouth, is often the first sign that you need water. And, for good reason: Not only does a dry mouth signify a lack of fluids, but also that your immune system is becoming weakened.
“A dry mouth can lead to the oral .
