{"id":1641,"date":"2025-03-27T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=1641"},"modified":"2025-04-22T11:58:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T11:58:12","slug":"what-not-drinking-enough-water-actually-does-to-your-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/27\/what-not-drinking-enough-water-actually-does-to-your-body\/","title":{"rendered":"What not drinking enough water actually does to your body"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Woman\t<\/div>
Wondering what not drinking enough water actually does to your body? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If what you’re about to read doesn’t make you reach for your Stanley cup, we don’t know what will.<\/p>\n

It turns out that nearly two thirds of us don’t drink enough water<\/a> and all that tea<\/a> and beer<\/a> we’re drinking isn’t helping. In fact, it’s doing the opposite.<\/p>\n

Worse still, one in three people go without drinking any water at all throughout the day, and nearly half have no clue how much they should be drinking.<\/p>\n

But what does that mean for your health? And how much does it actually affect your mental clarity? <\/p>\n

Metro<\/strong> spoke to a GP to find out.<\/p>\n

What does dehydration do to your body and what are the main symptoms?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dr Nadira Awal<\/a> explains that while thirst might be the most obvious hint that you need to up your water game \u2013 by the time you\u2019re there, you\u2019re already likely experiencing a low level of dehydration.<\/p>\n

For these reasons, it’s \u2018best to drink water throughout the day, rather than waiting until you’re thirsty,\u2019 she shares.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the headaches, which are another early sign of dehydration.<\/p>\n

When the body lacks fluids, blood volume falls, which as Dr Nadira outlines, results in \u2018diminished blood flow to the brain\u2019 \u2013 and naturally, the best tonic for this is a little bit of Adam\u2019s ale. Who\u2019d have thought?<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Woman\t<\/div>
Unsurprisingly, you need to up your intake if you’ve been exercising (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s bad news on the beauty front: dehydration can dry your lips out \u2013 beyond anything a bit of lip balm can solve. Plus, there\u2019s the obvious issue of having a dry mouth.<\/p>\n

\u2018As the body dehydrates, saliva production diminishes, causing the mouth to feel dry or sticky. Lips may also become dry and chapped,\u2019 Dr Nadira adds.<\/p>\n

\u2018When the body is not adequately hydrated, the skin may feel less plump and flexible. The skin turgor test is a basic test in which you gently pinch and release the skin on the back of your hand. If the skin doesn\u2019t soon return to its usual position and instead appears “tented,” it may be an indication of dehydration.\u2019<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, it can also impact your energy levels \u2013 and as Dr Nadira explains, fatigue is a common sign of dehydration, but it\u2019s sometimes missed.<\/p>\n

When the body is dehydrated, it needs to work harder to \u2018execute routine processes, which can cause fatigue and a lack of energy,\u2019 she adds. So, if you\u2019re feeling exhausted and you can\u2019t put it down to a lack of sleep (or even too much exercise), it could simply be a lack of aqua.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Pregnant\t<\/div>
Pregnant people also need to drink more to support their baby (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And when dehydration levels up and becomes more extreme, so do the symptoms, which might include a faster heartbeat and heavier breathing as the body \u2018attempts to compensate for decreased blood volume,\u2019 as well as confusion or irritation, which stem from the brain\u2019s deprivation of water.<\/p>\n

\u2018In extreme circumstances, fainting may result from a drop in blood pressure,\u2019 Dr Nadira advises.<\/p>\n

\u2018When these symptoms appear, it is critical to treat dehydration at once. In most circumstances, increasing fluid intake will treat mild to moderate dehydration.<\/p>\n

\u2018However, in severe situations or susceptible populations such as small children or the elderly, medical intervention may be required.\u2019<\/p>\n

How much water do you actually need to drink in a day?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s an age-old question. The amount of water you need to drink actually depends on multiple factors, including age, gender, activity levels, climate, and the overall state of your health.<\/p>\n

Dr Nadira advises that the typical adult male should be drinking roughly 13 cups or 3 litres of water each day, while the recommendation for adult women is substantially lower at 9 cups (or 2.2 litres).<\/p>\n

During pregnancy, a person\u2019s water requirements also increase to support the growth of the baby, increasing to 10 cups (which equates to 2.3 litres) each day.<\/p>\n

\u2018This heightened demand persists after, particularly among lactating women. Lactating women should aim for about 13 cups (3 litres) of water each day to support milk production and keep themselves hydrated,\u2019 Dr Nadira adds.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Herbal\t<\/div>
Tea also counts towards your daily liquid intake (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And if you\u2019re sick, if it\u2019s a particularly hot day, or if you\u2019ve been exercising, your requirements \u2018dramatically\u2019 increase. During illness, the exact amount will vary depending on how long you\u2019re down for, but you should generally \u2018strive to drink enough to maintain urine pale and avoid thirst.\u2019<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019ve been packing in the miles on the treadmill, lifting weights or running an ultramarathon, Dr Nadira\u2019s rules state that during any form of exercise, you should drink one cup of water for every 15-20 minutes of activity.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tAre Brits really drinking enough water?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Two thirds of the UK population (65%) don\u2019t drink enough water, while almost 3 in 10 (27%) of us drink less than three glasses each day.<\/p>\n

Worse still, a third (35%) often go an entire day <\/em>without any H20 passing their lips, while 49% have no idea how much they should even be drinking, according to new statistics from hydration brand Liquid I.V.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

You should continue to hydrate yourself after you\u2019ve finished your workout too, to replenish all the liquids you\u2019ve lost while sweating.<\/p>\n

\u2018It’s worth noting that, while these guidelines provide a general framework, the best indicator of appropriate hydration is frequently listening to your body’s cues and examining the colour of your urine. Thirst is a reliable indicator that your body requires more fluids, while pale yellow urine typically suggests enough hydration,\u2019 Dr Nadira further advises.<\/p>\n

Do other drinks besides water count towards your daily liquid intake?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Yes \u2013 all kinds of beverages count towards your daily liquid intake, including tea, squash (without excessive sugar), coffee, milk and even some soups \u2013 but naturally, water is the most hydrating option.<\/p>\n

However, Dr Nadira adds that drinks like caffeine can actually have a mild \u2018diuretic effect\u2019 \u2013 which means that you might be popping to the loo more often.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Group\t<\/div>
Alcohol is the only fluid that actually dehydrates you (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Still, for most people, these drinks still contribute to hydration in a net-positive way. Just be mindful of added sugars if you\u2019re looking for a healthier option,\u2019 she concludes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Keep in mind that alcohol is the only fluid to be dehydrating in healthy individuals with full gut function.\u2019<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re getting a few pints in at the pub with your pals, you might want to intersperse them (or zebra stripe<\/a>) with some trusty old H20 to save an even worse <\/em>headache the next morning.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wondering what not drinking enough water actually does to your body? (Picture: Getty Images) If what you’re about to read doesn’t make you reach for your Stanley cup, we don’t know what will. It turns out that nearly two thirds of us don’t drink enough water and all that tea and beer we’re drinking isn’t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1641"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1641"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1649,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1641\/revisions\/1649"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}