Every year, the science seems to shift on how much water the average human should drink each day — some recommendations say 64 ounces, others say half your body weight in ounces, and still other guidelines recommend that people should drink to quench thirst rather than gulping a predetermined amount. But even though the guidelines seem to change constantly, one thing is clear: Dehydration, even if it's mild, can have some long-lasting effects on your health.
We all know some of the tell-tale signs of dehydration: Your tongue feels like sandpaper, your head starts to ache, maybe even dizziness or light-headedness sets in. While mild dehydration is easy to fix — drinking just two to three cups of water usually does the trick — it’s quite common in humans. And new research is shining a light on the dangers that chronic, mild dehydration can pose to your health.
