Do you find yourself hungry all the time? Are you gaining weight from eating too much? It is possible that you may be confusing your body’s signs for thirst as signs of hunger.

How is this possible?

Without getting all science-y on you, the hypothalamus (part of the brain) is the control centre for both hunger and thirst, so it sends the same signal whether you are hungry or thirsty.

How will we know?

Drink a glass of filtered water before reaching for a meal or snack. Wait around 15 minutes and see whether or not your ‘hunger’ pangs have disappeared.

What if I am just thirsty?

It’s important to note that if you are in fact experiencing thirst, you are already classified dehydrated (at around 1-2%). Real dehydration occurs by the time at least 2 percent of your body weight is reduced and feelings of fatigue, nausea and dizziness occur, so make sure you drink up!

 Why is it important to stay hydrated?

When your body is low on water, the first place it turns to is the colon. That’s right, whenever you are dehydrated, your body draws water from your poop, tries its best to clean it, and puts it into general circulation. If this sounds like a “crappy” deal to you, imagine how the cells of your body feel! Thirsty yet? 

Water assists in the flushing out of toxins in the body, it also eases digestion and blood circulation and aids in weight loss.

Dry skin is also another sign of dehydration – drink up! 

Drinking water is also the all-natural energy booster. When you drink adequate amount of water you are less likely to consume foods such as sugary drinks and caffeine for the ‘pick-me-up’ effects. This reduces stress on the body and hence, is a win win for everyone.

How much should you drink?

A good guide is as follows: Multiply your body weight in kg x 0.033. There you have your daily recommended water consumption in litres.