If drinking more water was on your New Year’s resolution list for the past 5 years raise your hand.

OK… every single person reading this, you can lower your hand.

A recent study estimated that 75% of adults aren’t drinking enough water. Which means you may be dehydrated without even realizing it.

Regularly depriving your body of the water it needs adds stress to your heart and organs, can lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, headaches, and even be mistaken for illness. Nearly all body functions rely on fluid balance so even reducing your body fluid by as little as 1% can heavily affect how we feel in our day to day.

If you are suffering from any of the below 8 symptoms it may be an indicator that you need to increase your daily water intake.

1. Dull, dry skin
   Dry skin means that your body is taking the water from skin cells to keep the other functions of your body running smoothly. Increasing your water intake will most likely reduce dry skin, the appearance of wrinkles and increase vitality and suppleness.
2. Breakouts
   Your skin is a good indicator of what’s going on internally. If you are suffering from regular breakouts your body may be trying to detox through the skin. Increasing your water intake can support your liver to flush toxins and properly eliminate waste from cells which is key to achieving a glowing complexion.
3. Headaches
   A headache may mean you aren’t getting enough water. The human brain is made up of mostly water and when you become dehydrated your brain tissue loses water causing your brain to shrink and pull away from the skull causing a headache. Sounds pleasant, right? Dehydration also causes your blood volume to drop which in turn lowers the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
4. You wake up thirsty
   You may feel like you’re sipping enough water throughout the day, but if you aren’t getting enough you’ll either be waking up in the middle of the night for water or getting up in the morning with a sandpaper tongue.
5. Fatigue
   Since your brain is mostly made of water it’s essential for function. When your brain isn’t getting enough water it can cause fatigue. This might sound crazy, but water can be just as energizing as a cup of coffee. Try it warm with some lemon for additional detoxifying effects in the morning. If you find yourself hitting a wall at 3pm try drinking a glass of water before pouring a cup of coffee or reaching for a soda.
6. Bad breathe
   Dehydration can prevent your body from making enough saliva resulting in an overgrowth of bacteria. Ick.
7. Cravings
   Thirst can often disguise itself as hunger or cravings. Before reaching for a snack, drink a glass of water and wait 20 minutes. You might be surprised that you hunger dissipates once you are hydrated.
8. Digestion Problems
   To digest food properly you need to keep your body hydrated. Water keeps the mucous barrier in your stomach healthy and able to neutralize acid. An ineffective mucous barrier can cause uncomfortable stomach pains.

Here’s an easy way to determine the amount of water you need for your body size.

Take your weight in lbs and divide it by 2. That’s how many ounces of water your body needs daily in order for your cells to stay hydrated and function properly.

Ex. If you weigh 130 lbs you need 65 oz of water a day for optimal cell function.

The biggest hurdle it seems is remembering to drink water. It’s not that we don’t want to drink it, often we just forget. So if it’s in front of you you’ll be more likely to to regularly hydrate –  science!

Keep a glass or stainless steel water bottle filled and carry it with you at all times, take it everywhere you go. Fill it and leave it by your bed at night so you can immediately hydrate in the morning. Add cucumbers, mint leaves or even basil to your water bottle to spruce up your daily intake.

Some of our favorite water bottles that are cute enough to consider an accessory.