How do we know when we are thirsty?

You may not think so when you look in the mirror, but more than half of your body is made up of water.

It exists in your cells and the spaces in between them. It’s even in your blood. Water is necessary to make sure that nutrients are absorbed by the body. It also helps you excrete waste matter and regulates your temperature (by making you sweat). Making sure you have enough water in your body is very important.

But how does your body tell you when your water levels are low? Well, the hypothalamus (a gland deep inside your brain) detects if you lose more than half a litre of water and gives you a signal by making you feel thirsty. If you ignore that, your body goes one further by giving you a headache and making you tired. Ignore that at your own peril – the next step is heart trouble and, after around 3 days, you’d be unable to recover. So drink up!