Doctor reveals how much water you need to drink per day and what happens if you don't

I think if most of us were honest with ourselves, we would admit that we probably don't drink enough water - but one doc has warned about the damage you could do if you don't quench your thirst enough.

Unless you’re one of those people who carry around one of those massive water bottles 24/7, it can be hard to remember to chug down enough water in a day.

But one medic is urging people to re-examine their habits and check in on whether they're really getting enough H2O.

You might not realize this, but it’s also possible to drink too much water, in fact, one woman tragically died after drinking four bottles of water in 20 minutes.

Such a tragic story proves there is a crucial balance when it comes to how much water to guzzle, and an expert has now detailed exactly how much that is.

Marjan Moghaddam, D.O., a doctor with Henry Ford Health, explained: "We’re made up of water more than anything else.

Are you drinking enough water? (Getty Stock Photo)

"Drinking six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water daily is what’s recommended. Six is fine for most people, eight if you’re more active."

The doc went on to highlight all of the impacts not getting enough water can have on your body - and it sounds pretty grim.

What happens if you don't drink enough water?

Persistent headaches

The medic explained how a lack of H2O could lead to 'persistent headaches', which can be brought on as a result of dehydration. However, having a glass of water or two should solve that.

Bowel problems

Issues with your bowels can also come about as a result of a lack of water, as Dr Moghaddam explained: "There are water receptors in the colon, and they pull water from the body to make the stools softer.

"If you don’t get enough water, hard stools and constipation could be common side effects, along with abdominal pain and cramps."

Not having enough water can have a big impact on your body (Getty Stock Photo)

Weight

A lesser-known impact of not drinking enough water is actually gaining weight, with Dr Moghaddam adding: "Sometimes people mistake thirst for hunger and they eat more, but really they just need to drink more.

"Sometimes if you have a glass of water, the hunger cues will go away."

Appearance and mood changes

Fatigue, dry mouth and dull skin can also come about as a result of not drinking a sufficient amount of water, though these can be addressed by increasing your liquid intake.

While the standard advice is six to eight glasses, one expert explained how it very much depends on circumstances.

Dietician and author Amy Goodson told the New York Post: “The truth is that many factors impact how much water you need, including your age, sex, activity level, and overall health."

So, get that water poured into a glass right away!