Three out of four Americans are chronically dehydrated in the United States, according to DripDrop. And unfortunately, most people are not even aware that they're not drinking enough water.
Unbeknownst to you, your body is telling you that you're dehydrated in ways you may not even realize. INSIDER spoke with several doctors and health experts to find out how to tell if you need to drink more water.
SEE ALSO: 5 terrifying things that can happen to your body when you're dehydrated
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Your skin is dry.
One way to tell if you are not drinking enough water is to take a look at your skin, according to Dr. Sean McCaffrey, D.C., I.H.S., L.D.H.S., founder and health practitioner at McCaffrey Health Clinic. Water is essential to all of your organs, including the largest organ of your body — your skin.
"When we are dehydrated then our bodies cannot perform properly and cannot flush out toxins. Without adequate moisture our skin becomes dull, drawn and dry, instead of plump and moisturized," Dr. McCaffrey told INSIDER.
By drinking more water, you help your body flush out toxins and replenish your skin's tissues, which keeps it hydrated and supple, Dr. McCaffrey explained.
You're thirsty.
An obvious sign of dehydration is feeling thirsty, according to Dr. McCaffrey.
"Our body is borrowing water and allocating it to other areas in need. This creates the feeling of thirst within us, which is a sign that liquids need to be replenished," Dr. McCaffrey told INSIDER.
Thirst isn't the best indicator of hydration, according to Megan Ostler MS, RDN and iFit Dietitian, because by the time we are thirsty, we are already dehydrated.
You have dark urine.
To determine if you are drinking enough water, take a look at the color of your urine. As weird as it may sound, it can give you an idea for how hydrated you are.
If it's a darker yellow, then you are likely dehydrated. The body retains water in order to preserve the little bit that is still in your system, according to Dr. McCaffrey. So your kidneys have to work harder to keep the urine concentrated so that your body can hold on to as much as water as possible.
"We, therefore, have less water in our urine. Since our urine is more concentrated, it becomes much darker in color," Dr. McCaffrey told INSIDER.
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