4 Antibiotic Herbs and How To Use Them -

Antibiotic herbs can be used around the home for minor infections and as antiseptics to prevent infection. Here are some of the more useful antibiotic herbs.

1. Garlic

This smelly but effective herb is an antibiotic powerhouse. It’s also widely available and inexpensive. You can even grow it yourself.

How do you use it?

Garlic works best when used internally. It can be made into ear drops and used to combat ear infections; simmered in broth or water, it makes a healing broth that works especially well for upper respiratory infections. Garlic can be minced and added to all sorts of foods, from pasta to salad. Many natural health practitioners believe that garlic is most effective when used raw – as juice, minced, or crushed.

2. Echinacea

You’ve probably heard of this herb – it’s all over the place during cold and flu season, and for good reason. Echinacea is a powerful antibiotic and, in the case of colds and flu, anti-viral. It also works as an antiseptic on wounds and to treat sore throats.

How do you use it?

Tea made from Echinacea’s roots and aerial parts is not particularly tasty, but it can be drunk. Such a tea can also be used as a wash for superficial cuts and scrapes. Echinacea tincture, diluted in warm water, makes a very good sore throat remedy.

3. Goldenseal

The golden yellow color of Goldenseal’s roots give it its name, and these roots are the parts that are used medicinally. Goldenseal works well topically and internally; however, it is such an effective antibiotic that it can affect intestinal flora, and should not be taken internally for more than a few weeks at a time.

How do you use it?

Infused in boiling water and then cooled, Goldenseal has a reputation as a very effective eye wash for infections in and around the eye. Such an infusion also makes a very good wash for cuts and scrapes, and can even be used on surgical wounds, particularly on pets.

4. Ginger

Did you know that ginger can work as an antibiotic? It is reputed to be effective against E. coli and Salmonella, both of which are food-borne bacteria that can cause significant illness in people. It has even been shown to treat and cure ulcers.

How do you use it?

Ginger can be made into a tea using the fresh root or the dried and ground root. The fresh root is inexpensive, and a decoction can easily be made by gently simmering ginger slices in water and drinking the result, sweetened with raw honey. You can also eat candied ginger to help treat ulcers and fight infection.

few Natural Spot and Acne Remedies -

This is a common problem for both teenagers and adults. There are several chmeical products on the market including Retin-A, Clearasil, Proactiv Solutions, and more that all try to tackle the issue of fighting acne. Many of these can be harsh and full of chemicals that are questionable.
If you want another choice, here are some other remedies and suggestions for combating acne.
* Change your eating habits. Eating the wrong foods which are high in fat can cause pimples to erupt on your body, most commonly on the face. Each person has their trigger foods that can worsen the acne if they are already experiencing pimples.
* Consume more Vitamin A. Deficiencies of this vitamin have been linked to acne outbreaks. Good sources of Vitamin A include fruits and fruit juices.
* Buttermilk facial rinses have been known to treat acne. Using pure buttermilk, rinse your face daily.
* Pastes created from various items such as tomatoes, mustard seeds, garlic, avocado, or orange peels can be applied to the acne to lessen the inflammation.
* Many herbs can treat acne flare-ups: turmeric, fenugreek, and basil.
* Use a clean cotton ball and soak it in lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Apply the liquid to your face and let it sit. Use warm water to wash it off.

Things You Should Be Doing For Your Hubby Regularly -

1. Don’t talk about him behind his back
If there are any issues driving a wedge in your relationship, skip the venting session with girlfriends, and talk to your husband first. “Husband shaming” helps no one.
2. Brag about him when he’s not around
If you hear anything negative said about your other half — even in jest — step up and defend him. Show that your marriage is full of strength and unity.
3. Pray for him — daily
The only way to make a united marriage even stronger is to put God at the head of it.
4. Bake the man some cookies
As frivolous as it may sound, this comforting gesture goes a long way.
5. Strengthen his servitude
If your man spends what little free time he has serving his community or church, you may feel a bit lonesome. Just remember that others may be in need of his service too.
6. Don’t nag
Spend more time focusing on what hubby does do and less on what he doesn’t do.
7. Voice your gratitude
Don’t save your thanks for the big things. Your husband shows his love for you in many simple ways. Return the favor, and thank him sincerely for all the little things.
8. Praise his work
Whether your husband sits at a desk all day, shuttles the kids all around town or puts his life on the line for his country, tell him how much you appreciate his hard work and sacrifice.
9. Encourage his hobbies
Dust off your old golf and hit the green with him! If you don’t enjoy the same activities, arrange an outing for him and his buddies every once in a while.
10. Build financial unity
If you are constantly complaining about money, you might be making hubby feel unappreciated or undervalued.
11. Show him you have faith in him
No one is perfect. We all fail sometimes. If your husband is the primary provider, he may feel a lot of pressure to be the best. Find ways to show him that you love and believe in him no matter what happens.
12. Kiss him — passionately!
When he leaves for work, when he comes home, or just because you locked eyes from across the room — I challenge you to do this at least once a day.
13. Call him courageous
From going off to war to opening their hearts to those in need, our men show their courage in a myriad of ways. Recognize your husband’s resolutions, however great or small they seem.
14. Make your home a safe haven
Keep your home a happy place for your husband to find comfort and refuge from whatever the outside world throws at him.
 15. Love his family
They say that when you marry your spouse, you marry his entire family. While some families are much closer than others, it’s important to love the people who made your husband who he is. You don’t have to agree with or even get along with them. But truly love them.
16. Take him out on a date!
Change things up! Surprise your husband with a night out where he doesn’t have to plan a thing.
17. Discover his s*xual needs
Newsflash, ladies: Intimacy is Read: Your husband has 5 basic needs. Are you meeting them?. Communication is key in making those special experiences better for both of you.
18. Baby him when he’s sick
Men like to be tough. They are natural providers. But when they get sick, they turn back into those little boys who just want to be comforted. Give your hubby that moment, and when he’s feeling better, let him go back to “superman mode.”
19. Cook his favorite meal
As the primary cook for my family,  plan our menu around whatever  happen to be in the mood for — and what the kids will actually eat.
 20. Don’t argue with him in front of the kids
And never pit the kids against him, forcing them to choose sides. Keep your marital issues between you and your husband.
You and your husband have a one-of-a-kind marriage, and these ideas are just the beginning. Try implementing a few, and watch your relationship flourish and grow

Brain damaging habits you must know -

1 – Unhealthy Diet The number one risk factor for any disease is a bad diet. Having too much salt, fat, and preservatives in the food we eat increases our risk for developing many diseases. Having diabetes and hypertension affects the way blood delivers oxygen to the brain, and without enough oxygen, brain tissue starts to die. Damaged brain tissue can cause memory and mood disturbances (beyond the physical manifestations
2 – Smoking
Smoking is a dangerous vice that affects our circulatory system. Nicotine damages the walls of our blood vessels, making them prone to rupture. Even without causing damage to the cerebral blood vessels, the constant vasoconstriction affects the delivery of blood (and therefore oxygen) to the brain. Smoking is also a major contributing factor to hypertension and diabetes – both of which can affect the brain.
3 – Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant of the nervous system, affecting a person’s mood and memory. Too much alcohol can cause blackouts, which manifests as the typical loss of memory and prolonged depressed mood in a healthy adult. These symptoms become more pronounced in older people, often being mistaken for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease – or worse, disguising their symptoms.
4 – Lack Of Sleep
Sleeping during the night is when the body recovers and regenerates from the day’s activities. Older people are light sleepers because they spend less time in deep sleep, which makes them easily awaked by noise or other similar disturbances. Without enough sleep, people wake up tired and less alert. Consistently lacking in quality sleep disturbs the brain’s natural sleep cycle, memory retention, and mood. People often have difficulty concentration and are very irritable without enough sleep.
5 – Drug Use
Drug use, whether medicinal or recreational, has the potential to permanently damage our brain. Drugs, by design, are intended to alter brain function – temporarily providing feelings of elation and improving energy levels. But mind-altering substances can cause damage the neuronal pathways to the brain; people who abuse drugs often experience depression and an inability to concentrate. In some cases, drug use affects a person’s level of consciousness and may even cause seizures and difficulty breathing.
6 – Being Unsociable
Regular social interaction is a basic human need. Opportunities to socialize with others are actually opportunities to keep our brain healthy and alert. People who avoid social interaction are prone to developing psychosocial mental disorders because of a lack of social support from either family or friends. Studies have revealed a causal relationship between social isolation and deteriorating mental and physical health.
7 – Low Self Esteem
Self-esteem is one of the building blocks of a healthy mental state. Most mental disorders stem from low-self esteem that leads to self-destructive behavior. When we put ourselves down by comparing ourselves with others and thinking that we are never good enough, it can damage our mood and our relationships with others. Learn to praise yourself when warranted, think you can instead of can’t, and grab the opportunities that come your way.
8 – Not Exercising
A new study in JAMA Psychiatry has demonstrated that three or more periods of exercise per week decreases your risk of being depressed by 19%. University College London researchers monitored 11,000 people born in 1958 up until the age of 50 and discovered a correlation between physical activity and depression. People who were depressed were less likely to be active, while those who were active were less likely to be depressed.
9 – Overuse of Electronic Devices
Links have been found between use of computers and smart phones in the late evening and an inability to sleep – due to overstimulation of the brain. It’s a well known fact that if you spend too long on the computer, you can get “brain fog” and a kind of physical lethargy and lack of motivation. Take breaks. Best of all, have days with no computer use and spend time out in nature doing physical activities.
 

What okro does to your body -

Okra and Diabetes: Okra, commonly referred to as lady’s finger, has been found by multiple in vitro and in vivo studies to be a potent blood glucose-lowering (anti-diabetic) food. Okra has been used traditionally as an alternative treatment for diabetes and it is thought that this effect of okra is due to the presence of a large amount of soluble dietary fiber, which retards glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
Okra and Cancer: Okra has also demonstrated action against breast cancer cells in preliminary lab studies.
Okra and Depression: Amazing new research has proved that okra may also have the ability to fight one of the chronic illnesses of our time: Depression.
It’s been known that healthy diet improves mood since some fruits and vegetables were reported to have mood-elevating antioxidants such as flavonoids and quercetin. Because of okra’s high antioxidant content, yet no known records of antidepressant ability, the researchers from Mazandaran University of Medical Science examined its effect in elevating mood.
The researchers drew extracts from the seeds and leaves as they often contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants. As expected, the extracts were found to contain 58 – 68 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram, the same levels of antioxidants as extracts of blackberry and blueberry, the most powerful of all fruits and berries.
After standard tests on diabetic mice, the results showed that okra seed extracts acted as a powerful mood-elevating agent that when in high dosage (750 mg of 10:1 seed extract per kg bodyweight) performed as effective as the anti-depression drug imipramine. But even in lower dose (250 mg/kg), the extract already manifested a significant mood boost. The positive mood effect is attributed to high total phenol and flavonoid contents of okra extracts.
The difficulties and complications related to diabetes put diabetes sufferers at greater risk of developing depression. Also, it is thought that having depression may increase one’s risk for diabetes or worsen diabetes symptoms. Studies have shown (unsurprisingly) that people with depression and diabetes suffer more severely than those with diabetes alone.
With the discovery of okra’s powerful anti-depressive action, people with diabetes have a significant likelihood of handling depression and gaining control over their blood levels at the same time. Eating the whole okra contains fiber which is essential for regulating blood sugar and lowering cholesterol levels. It also contains nearly 10% of recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid. Even without diabetes, munching on okra is a far more healthy option for having that “happy hormone” than binging on sweets.

Harmless Habits That Can Leave Your Marriage In Shreds -

Things you never thought about when single, and don’t really need to mind with your friends, can sneak up on you and drive a huge wedge between you and your partner.
Read: The No. 1 cause of divorce may not be what you think
So take these little tidbits of wisdom to heart before you tear what you have to shreds.
Solo decisions
Marriage means major decisions get made by the both of you.
No making purchases that affect the other person without consulting them first. Maybe you’ve got that one down, but how about those smaller buys, or little decisions?
If you have a habit of buying, selling or deciding on the fly, even for small things, without letting your spouse know, you may be unwittingly undercutting his confidence in your partnership.
Make a phone call, send a text, tweet a pic. Just do something however small to let your spouse know you have them in mind when deciding to buy.
Little white lies
Saving face and keeping the peace often comes with a price.
Little white lies can slowly, but surely, destroy your husband’s faith in your words. This can also soon have him second guessing you, or, worse, tuning you out completely.
You can be nice and honest at the same time, but if only one is possible, it’s best to leave the lid on the lying box. Once opened, it may never fully be closed.
Nagging
Even if what you’re insisting on actually does need to be done, constant whiny reminders will do little to inspire love at the end of the day.
Nag-tag, or the nag and ignore game, can wreak havoc on a marriage because necessary items won’t be tackled when they should be just as a show of power. If it needs to be said more than twice, re-think your strategy, or get someone else to take on the undone task.
Read: 7 things lousy husbands have in common
Interrupting
Cutting off your partner in conversation is not only annoying, it shows a lack of respect for them and a lack of control in yourself.
The message you are sending your spouse, and anyone else in the room, is essentially: “What I say and think is more important or interesting than what you say or think.”
It might be hard to keep this under control when conversations become lively or large, but if you do find yourself cutting in, excuse yourself, apologize and ask permission to continue.
Correction
Be careful with correction!
Make sure your spouse knows you are not questioning his or her intelligence, and there is no intent to show up, embarrass, or put him down. And of course, make sure any correction you attempt to make is actually accurate. No sense in starting trouble over nothing.
Use qualifiers like “I think,” “I heard,” or “I read a study” instead of “You’re wrong, this is how it is.” As this won’t be taken well no matter how accurate the information is.
If you find your spouse unable to finish a sentence without you interrupting his thought, it’s time to take a breather and decide if your information or your marriage is more important.
Comparison
Do not compare your spouse to other people.
There is almost no way to perceive this positively, and without an air of criticism. Your partner is who he is, you are who you are, and it is unfair to ask them to be more like someone else.
Instead, ask him to build the kind of marriage you want to have with him. If this means more compassion, support, effort, etc., then he knows it’s about the both of you having what you need, not other people having what you don’t.
Mind what you say and how you behave toward the one you love. Think about how you feel when these things are done to you; not just once in a while, but consistently over time. Resentments built up and can rupture with little provocation. So keep these harmless habits under wraps

Words That Are Most Important In A Marriage

The truth is, a healthy marriage requires A LOT of grace. Some couples get stuck in a stagnant rut because one or both spouses dig in their heels and refuse to admit fault for fear of looking weak or giving “power” to the other spouse. Neither spouse is willing to swallow their pride and go first. This creates a toxic cycle where nobody wins.
When you hold a grudge, you both lose. When you choose to forgive, you both win!
Before I get to the “Nine most important words in a marriage” let me share briefly on how NOT to apologize…
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings”
This isn’t a real apology. It’s the kind of “apology” that will just make your spouse want to punch you in the nose. It’s a passive aggressive way of saying, “You were being too sensitive.”
“I’m sorry for whatever I did”
Anytime the word “whatever” is used in the apology, it loses authenticity. A real apology is specific and heartfelt, not vague and impersonal.
“I’m sorry, but I wasn’t the only one at fault.”
You probably weren’t the only one at fault, but your apology loses sincerity when you start trying to assign blame to your spouse at the same time. They have to do that on their own. If there’s ever a “but” in your apology, it isn’t a real apology.
Now, for a better way to apologize, here are the 9 of the most important words in a marriage…
“I was wrong. I am sorry. Please forgive me.”
These simple words can preserve trust in your marriage, and once you lose trust, you risk losing everything. Always be quick to say them when you’ve blown it! Here’s how…
There are 3 key components to a true apology. I’ll give an example below of how this kind of apology can look in a marriage.
1. Confessing guilt
(I was wrong.)
This needs to be specific and heartfelt, not forced or coerced. Reveal the details of what you did and the motives behind them (even if it isn’t pretty.
2. Admitting remorse
(I am sorry.)
This can’t just be remorse that you got caught. It has to come from a place of reflection and genuine concern for the damage you caused.
3. Asking for grace
. (Please forgive me.)
This requires swallowing your pride and putting the power in your spouse’s hands. It’s asking the opportunity to rebuild what you have broken by your words and/or actions and it’s asking them to give up the right to punish and to focus instead on healing and rebuilding trust.
Here’s an example…
“I know that I hurt you when I hid that purchase I made from you. I chose to value something I wanted to buy more than I valued your feelings and your trust in me. I was wrong. I don’t have an excuse other than I was being selfish and reckless. I am sorry. I want to make this right. I want you to be able to trust me fully and completely and I know I wounded your trust in me. Please tell I can to to start rebuilding your trust. I love you and I want to do everything in my power to protect our marriage. Please forgive me.”
If you’re on the receiving end of the apology, accept it with grace and move forward to rebuild trust.
Let grace flow freely in your marriage. Be quick to forgive and to seek forgiveness. Don’t keep score and don’t hold grudges! Your marriage will thrive when you embrace grace.

Amazing health benefit of Apple -

1. Cancer Prevention – Apples, apple juice, and apple extracts have all been shown to prevent colon, breast, and skin cancer in animal subjects. Epidemiological observations also support the effectiveness of apples in preventing lung and colon cancer in human populations.
2. Antioxidant Activity – The phytochemical content of apples has demonstrated free radical scavenging activities that reduce DNA damage caused by oxidation. It may be interesting to note that according to studies, the most antioxidant-rich part of the apple is its peel, not its pulp.
3. Antihyperglycemic – With the wealth of available scientific evidence supporting the antihyperglycemic effect of the apple, the question of researchers is no longer whether this fruit can really control hyperglycemia but more on which particular phenolic of the fruit confers this effect, and which apple variety provides the largest amount of benefits.
4. Anti-diabetes – Related to the apple’s antihyperglycemic effect is its potential as an anti-diabetes agent. A study has shown that apple consumption is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. And again, researchers credit much of the apple’s anti-diabetic health benefits on its peel, which has a higher level of quercertin than the pulp of the fruit.
5. Cardiovascular Protection – It has long been concluded that the more dietary fiber there is in one’s diet, the lower one’s risk for coronary heart disease becomes. A hundred grams of raw apple with its skin on contains 10% of the average person’s daily fiber requirements. This makes this fruit a very heart-friendly addition to one’s everyday diet.
6. Cholesterol Reduction – One of the reasons why apples are so effective at lowering the risk of heart disease is that they have a reducing effect on bad cholesterol. In a 2001 study, researchers observed that when animal subjects were given apples, their levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood decreased, their good cholesterol (HDL) levels increased, and there was more cholesterol in their feces, which suggests that less cholesterol was absorbed by the body.
7. Anti-asthma – Researchers have found a specific link between apple consumption and a reduced risk for asthma. This same link has not been found in the general consumption of other fruits and vegetables such as grapefruit, onions, and white cabbage. Apple’s anti-asthma effect is especially prominent when the fruit is consumed at least twice a week.
8. Weight Reduction – In a study done on overweight middle-aged women, where the subjects were divided into three groups – the members of the first group were given an apple; the second group, a pear; and the third group, an oatmeal cookie to eat thrice a day for three months – researchers observed that at the end of the period, both the apple and pear groups lost an average of 1.21 kg, while those who had oat cookies did not have any significant changes in weight.
9. Anti-cholera – Researchers have found that immature apples contain polyphenols that inhibit the adverse effects of cholera on the body, making the fruit a possible therapeutic agent for treating cholera victims.
10. Anti-COPD Symptoms – During a three-year study, researchers examined the effects of flavonoid intake on victims of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The main dietary sources of the flavonoids were either tea or apples. The findings showed that while tea drinking did not produce a significant effect on the subjects, apple consumption resulted in less coughing and breathlessness, leading to the conclusion that a high intake of apples is beneficial for relieving the symptoms of COPD.

Signs of Hormone Imbalance You Shouldn't Ignore -

 

1 - Constant weight gain

If you're having a little trouble with your weight, it doesn't necessarily mean your diet's wrong; it can be one of the signs you have a hormone imbalance The so-called stress hormone "Cortisol" is secreted by the Adrenal glands. When Cortisol production is disrupted (whether through stress or some other cause), it cannot not only cause weight gain, but can also dictate where that weight gain accumulates on your body.

Studies have shown that increased Cortisol levels can lead to what is sometimes referred to as "toxic fat" gathering in the abdominal area. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease - both the risk of heart attack and stroke.
One of the results with increased Cortisol production is that it's stimulates an increase in the amount of Insulin released into your bloodstream. This can affect your blood sugar levels, which often results in increased appetite.

 2 - Poor Libido

Having a poor libido can also be one of the signs you have a hormone imbalance. The hormonal Androgen is manufactured in men by their testicles, and in women by their ovaries. Lack of this hormone can give rise to poor libido, even in women.
 3 - Feelings of fatigue
Fatigue is another of the signs you have a hormone imbalance, especially if you are getting plenty of quality sleep, but still wake up feeling tired. This could be down once again to our good old friend Cortisol. The constant state of readiness that the presence of Cortisol brings about with regard to the fight or flight syndrome, occurs when feelings of stress are being experienced. If stress is present too often, this can lead to feelings of fatigue.
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 4 - Low mood
With feelings of low and bad mood such as irritability, anxiety, and depression, the Thyroid Gland can be the guilty party once again, and for exactly the same reason - over production of TSH through Hypothyroidism

 5 - Insomnia and interrupted sleep

Insomnia and interrupted sleep conditions are often experience by women going through the Menopause or Perimenopause. It is a result of the huge change to hormonal balances. Unfortunately continued insomnia and interrupted sleep is only serves to make the condition worse. It's a vicious circle!
The problem is that hormone levels and balances are addressed during sleep, so sleep deprivation will affect up to 10 different hormones causing problems with appetite, cardiac health, fertility, and mental health too.
The hormone Estrogen is the hormone that helps to maintain regular sleep patterns. The deficiency of Estrogen, which is a symptom of Menopause or Perimenopause, is a main cause of Insomnia.
Testosterone deficiency can also be an issue for women. In men, it often leads to Sleep Apnea causing interrupted sleep for both themselves and their partners.

 6 - Excess Sweating

Excess sweating is another of the signs you have a hormone imbalance. Women going through the Menopause (or Perimenopause) often experience hot flashes. At night, when in bed, these are known as night sweats, and are sometimes a precursor to the onset of menopause itself, if it is not already in full swing.
In both men and women, night sweats can be a result of problems with the endocrine system, brought about by over or under production of hormones such as serotonin.

 7 - Problems with your digestion

If you are experiencing problems with your digestion, it could be brought about through the imbalance of 3 hormones in the gastrointestinal system. These are called Gastrin, Secretin, and Cholecystokinin, also known as CCK. These 3 hormones help to stimulate the actual digestive process that breaks food down into simple molecules that can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream.

8 - Craving for sugar

Another sign you have a hormone imbalance is a craving for sugar, which can be brought about by the gland we have already discussed on several occasions, namely the Thyroid gland. It's another consequence of the condition of hypothyroidism, whereby the gland is underactive.
A craving for sugar can also be brought about through an adrenal overload. Again, this reaction is part of the fight or flee mechanism that we mentioned earlier, whereby the body boosts production of Adrenaline and Cortisol. Anything sweet is unfortunately a great source of energy (albeit only very short lasting) to feed the fight/flee preparation process.

 9 - Hair loss

It was always thought that hair loss was usually the result of a lack of Testosterone. Whilst this may be true in terms of the root cause (ha ha - please excuse the pun) it is now known that Dyhydrotestosterone, or DHT for short, is believed to be the main culprit. Whilst women only have a very small level of Testosterone in their body systems, it is enough to cause DHT to trigger hair loss.

Getting the Balance Right

Hormones and health are closely related. You simply cannot enjoy good holistic health all the time that your hormones are out of balance - and the balance is a very fine one. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms discussed above do not necessarily mean that you have an actual hormone imbalance. These symptoms often relate to other conditions.
However, if you wish to pursue the hormone imbalance route, you'll find that a hormone diet can go a long way towards addressing many of your body’s possible hormonal imbalances.

Troubling signs that you need more water!

Your body simply cannot function properly if it is dehydrated – and the more dehydrated you are, the more problems will occur. All throughout the day, and even while we sleep, our body uses water. The “water” we see expelled through our sweat and urine is essential to removal of toxins, and we actually need more than the amount we put out to make up for the losses. This is because every single cell in our body uses H₂O to function. That doesn’t even count the activities we participate in everyday, like exercise and yes, even thinking. Our brain cells need a lot of water in order to function.
1. Dark, Infrequent Urine:
This one is probably the most obvious and best signs. Ideally, you should always aim to be observant regarding the color of your urine as it is an immediate indicator of your hydration level. Your urine should be pale in color. If it is dark, it is too concentrated and you need more fluids. Also if you haven’t urinated for several hours, you probably are not drinking enough.
2. Bad Breath:
Without enough water, our bodies start to withhold whatever water it can, wherever it can. Feeling extremely hot yet being unable to sweat, or being unable to pee, are signs of severe dehydration, but these signs occur later on. One of the first parts of the body that get depleted of water is the mouth. Xerostomia, or dry mouth, can cause a foul odour to build up in our mouths due to the lack of saliva and its cleansing properties.
Drinking water is also a good way to wash off the plaque and bacteria that build up in your mouth. So the next time you’re offered a mint, you might want a glass of water or two to go with that.
3. Dry Skin:
Dry skin, especially on the lips and eyes, are clinical signs of dehydration. When your skin is thirsty, chances are most of the cells inside of your body are getting thirsty as well. Moisturizers and creams don’t work as well as getting enough H₂O every day to fix dry, dull skin.
Regularly drinking water also fixes premature wrinkles and fine lines. Taking a water bottle from home with you wherever you go might help you get your water fix daily.
4. Muscle Cramps:
Muscle cramps are a sign of a great many alarming things, including dehydration.  The most common cause of cramps is insufficient nutrients like magnesium, potassium, or sodium, but you can have a lot of these in the diet without enough water to transport them to the muscles that need them.
5. Headaches and/or Irritability:
Your body may be in need of more water if you’re suffering an unusual headache.  If you’re finding tasks more difficult than usual, or if you’re feeling slightly moody, then it might be time for a break and a glass of water as well.  Difficulty concentrating is also a sign that you’re slightly low on H₂O.
6. Constipation:
We all know that the number one culprit for constipation is usually lack of fiber. In some cases, however, lack of water is more of a problem than lack of green leaves in the diet.  The next time you’re having trouble with bowel movement, drink a couple of glasses of water and see if it helps.
How Much Water Do I Really Need?
Recommended daily intake of water may vary per region, and this may be because climate also affects how much water you need a day. In the U.S., the typical daily water intake for males is 3.7 liters and 2.7 liters for females. In the UK, the recommendation is 1.8 liters for both.   In the desert, you’ll need more. Keep an eye on your urine color.
8 glasses a day with a 240 mL glass measurement is a more popular rule of thumb, and it helps a lot of people remember to stay hydrated throughout the day. People with renal problems should consult with their doctor for their recommended daily water intake.