5 Sh*tty Things That Happen To Your Body When You Don’t Drink Enough Water

Drinking enough water can sometimes feel like a thankless task. You’re running from the tap to your desk to the loo every five minutes, and for what? The smugness of knowing you’re more hydrated than your co-workers?

Well, it turns out that keeping your body’s water levels topped up comes with far more benefits than you might think. Our bodies are made up of 60% water, which works to flush out toxins, keep our cells in good health and regulate temperature (which explains why you always feel waaay too warm when you’re hungover and dehydrated).

So what happens if you stop drinking enough of that sweet, sweet H2O? A lot, it turns out….

You burn fewer calories
Even when you’re at rest, your metabolism is still working to burn off the calories from your morning latte and muffin. The rate at which this happens is known as your ‘basal metabolic rate.’ The bad news? The less hydrated you are, the lower your basal metabolic rate. So get drinking, stat.

You start to lose focus
That 3pm slump in work could be less down to tiredness and more down to how much water you’re taking in. Dehydration can actually cause the brain to shink away from the skull (gross), meaning you’ll have to work harder to complete even basic tasks.

You want to eat more
A solid piece of life advice? Drink a glass of water before every meal. A lot of the symptoms we interpret as ‘hunger pangs’ are often thirst pangs. Not only will you feel fuller after a glass of the good stuff, you’re also less likely to over-eat.

Your skin looks duller
Water works to plump up the skin, reducing signs of wrinkles and fine lines. So put away the Creme De La Mer and reach for a glass (or eight) of water instead.

Your mood dips… and spikes… and dips
This is especially true if you lead an active lifestyle. If you’re feeling weak and cranky on the regular after a workout, it’s a sure sign you’re not drinking enough water before, during and after exercise.

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