We know this is not news to you, but your body is made up of 75% water. It is therefore normal to notice certain “symptoms” when we don’t drink enough of it. Pay attention to the following signs and follow our tips to best hydrate yourself.
1 – Chapped lips
Our skin dehydrates when we don’t drink enough water. This leads to chapped lips, especially in winter, when the weather is cold. Chapped lips can easily bleed and need extra care. Above all, avoid biting or licking your lips -this only makes things worse!
Advice: Apply a nourishing lip balm regularly throughout the day, and apply a generous layer before going to sleep at night, to have your lips soft and protected the next morning. Don’t hesitate to remove dead skin cells using a lip exfoliant, that you can make yourself from a mix of sugar and olive oil. Another method is simply to gently scrub your lips with an old toothbrush, although this can also dry them out a little.
2 – Dark urine
This indicates that your kidneys, without enough water, need to work harder and therefore excrete more toxins. Dark urine can also be caused by eating foods such as beets, blackberries or food colourings, but if this does not change when you increase your water intake, it could be a sign of hepatitis. Left untreated, dehydration can also cause pain and lead to kidney stones.
Advice: To make your urine more clear, it’s no secret: drink plenty of water. Develop the habit of always keeping a bottle of water near you, while out and about or at work. The mere sight of this bottle will remind you to drink without you even realising it. And if you don’t especially like drinking plain water, drink tea, herbal teas or cranberry juice, that can help your kidneys to function at their best.
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