Too cold to take water for a walk is the wrong answer for hydration.
People attribute winter fatigue to cold, constant darkness and lack of vitamins. This is true, but the winter “lethargy” has one more reason. It is during the cold season that we forget to drink enough water, and as a result suffer from dehydration. On going hydration is key to great skin and also health and wellbeing.
Why hydration is so important
One thing about hydration that is absolutely a fact is that we need water to survive. Here are some of the many things water does for us:
- Helps our heart pump blood more easily through the blood vessels to the muscles.
- Helps our muscles work efficiently.
- Keeps our body at a normal temperature.
- Lubricates and cushions our joints.
- Protects our spinal cord and other tissues.
- Helps us get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements.
The bottom line is, if we don’t get enough water, our body becomes dehydrated. And dehydration can lead to everything from minor problems such as swollen feet or headache to potentially deadly conditions such as heat stroke.
Thirst quenching is more important in winter than in summer.
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Due to heating, the mucous membranes dry and we get sick
Heaters dry air in apartments and offices where we spend most of the day. The mucous membranes in the nose and throat dry up and we become “easy prey” for germs, bacteria, viruses and allergens. Due to the increased dryness of the mucous membranes, children are especially often sick, but adults also get it.
What to do?
Humidify indoor air and more often “moisten” the mucous membrane. Drinking enough water, because it helps us to “expel” the disease on the way.
Invisible” dehydration from sweet and alcoholic drinks
In the cold, we rarely feel very thirsty. But this does not mean that we do not need to drink water – on the contrary. Pure water is perceived as a cold drink, and we are more willing to warm ourselves with sweet tea, coffee or alcohol, which are ta-dam! – lead to fluid loss.
What to do?
Drink warm water. To make the water tastier, you can add honey, lemon, berries or ginger to it.
Temperature jumps also take away moisture
It’s cold outside, it’s hot indoors and transport. Such jumps in temperature also do not bring joy to our body. It spends more energy and loses a lot of fluid by regulating body temperature. The first to suffer from such stress are the skin and mucous membranes (as if they were not enough of the previous paragraph).
What to do?
Drink a glass of warm water or tea without sugar, not only when they came “from the cold”, but also before going out. You can take warm water in a thermos with you, adding, for example, herbs and berries. It will be easier for you to quench your thirst or warm yourself, and your body will be easier.
The body requires too high-calorie fuel
During cold weather we eat a lot more, preferring fatty and high-calorie foods. The body needs heat so that all systems work properly, and to generate heat, you need “fuel”. We eat so as not to freeze – this is an ancient instinct. As a result, an extra “fat” is saved, which saves the caveman in the cold and starvation times, and we don’t need anything at all.
What to do?
Water helps to remove toxins from the body. It is best not to drink with meals, but after an hour and a half, so as not to confuse the stomach and give it a thorough and proper digestion of food. Warm drinks without sugar, but with spices, will help to keep warm. For example, tea with ginger or cinnamon. In addition, if you replace all high-calorie drinks with water, this will save 400 extra kilocalories daily, and in 9 days you can lose 450 grams of weight (well, or compensate for the extra cake). The result is like a daily run of 30 minutes.
