Many of us have been told to drink between 6-8 glasses of water a day but when I ask patients about their water intake, I am told 2 cups is the daily average. Males need to consume 3 liters (12 cups) per day and females need to consume 2.2 liters (9 cups) per day for optimal hydration.
Failing to consume the recommended amount can lead to mild dehydration manifesting in multiple symptoms.
These are the 10 Signs That You Need to Drink More Water Immediately
- Your Urine is Dark Yellow
This is often the first sign that you are not drinking enough water. Generally, urine should be a light yellow-amber color. When a person does not consume enough water, the kidneys excrete a “higher concentration of waste products in the urine, including dead blood cells, toxins, proteins and other products that need to be removed from the body”, resulting in darker urine. You may also notice darker urine after consuming certain medications, B-Vitamins, beets, blackberries, asparagus or food coloring. If you notice a temporary change in urine colour, first consider if you’ve consumed something that would alter the color of your urine. Next, increase your water intake and observe if your urine color becomes lighter. If your urine stays dark for a prolonged period of time, it could be a sign of more serious health concerns such as hepatitis or gallstones.