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When your skin is dehydrated it loses its elasticity (Getty)There’s a simple test for finding out if you’re dehydrated and it only takes a couple of seconds to perform.
Called the Turgor Test or, more simply, the ‘skin pinch test’. it involves pinching the skin on your finger and seeing how long it takes to return to normal.
The test was shared on TikTok by Dr. Karan Raj who posted a video of it for his four million followers.
Dr. Raj explains this is a recognised technique to quickly tell if you need to drink more. When you’re hydrated, your skin has elasticity and will snap back quickly.
If you’re dehydrated it takes a bit longer to go back to normal.
In the video, the orginal narrator explains: ‘Dehydration check to see how dehydrated you are you have to squeeze your fingertip right here and if it goes back down you’re hydrated.
‘If you squeeze it and it stays up like this you are dehydrated.’
Then Dr. Raj takes over: ‘This is known as the skin pinch or skin turgor test. The more hydrated you are the more elastic your skin will be and it will bounce back immediately after pinching it.
‘If you’re dehydrated the skin loses elasticity and it takes a while to return to normal and it’s more likely to tent up.’
How much should I drink per day?
It’s important to stay hydrated (Getty)The recommended amount of water to drink per day is a subject that’s regularly debated among health experts.
Some health authorities have said that two litres a day, which is about eight small 8oz glasses (8×8), is about right. But it’s not based on science.
If the water is cold, it’s thought that this amount can also speed up your metabolism and thereby help you lose weight, particularly if glasses are drunk before meals.
But it should also be noted that water is the predominant ingredient in many drinks and even foods, so you can consume it that way as well.
Also, thanks to evolution, humans have an instinctive sense of when their body needs water, which manifests as thirst.
If you feel thirsty, you most likely are a little dehydrated, so get some water down your neck. Stop when your thirst is quenched. It’s that simple.
However, studies have shown that the thirst mechanism is damaged in old age, so those of advanced years may need to ensure they compensate for that by drinking more.
You also need to drink more water if you’re breastfeeding, exercising or if you are poorly.
MORE : This basic ‘thumb-palm test’ could save your life
MORE : Pantone unveils a ‘pee colour scale’ to help you figure out if you’re dehydrated
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