8 reasons you need to drink more water in winters (4 ways to get enough of it)
Winter dehydration can have serious impact on your body, so please drink enough water (even if you are not thirsty)
Are you suffering from winter dehydration?
Water if often called the "forgotten nutrient" as it is taken for granted so very often, particularly during the colder months of the year when due to a dip in the temperature thirst and dry parched mouth, the regular symptoms of dehydration do not usually surface, leading unfortunately to setting of deeper and bigger symptoms of dehydration (like muscle spasms, increased breathing rate and delirium).
Yes, frostbite and hypothermia are not the only health hazards associated with frigidly cold temperatures, dehydration is a big danger during the colder months too.
The fact is that whatever the outside temperature be, and even if you don't feel thirsty and sweaty, the body does need the water. 'Coz it's role in the body stays the same (summer or winter): transporting nutrients and oxygen to cells, removing waste, facilitating the body in absorbing nutrients, protecting and cushioning vital organs, moistening and hydrating the skin and eyes, ensuring adequate blood volume and thus helping keep the blood pressure normal too. Water also regulates body temperature; just as it helps protect against heat exhaustion during the hot months, in winters it is needed to ensure insulation against the cold.
Here's why you simply can't do without water, even in the winters:
1. Prevent heartburn: Drinking less water makes you more prone to heartburn and acidity.
2. Fight fatigue: Lack of water is the number one trigger of fatigue. Even mild dehydration - as little as a one-two per cent loss of your body weight - can sap your energy and make you tired; that's because muscles need a proper electrolyte-water balance in the body to function properly.
3. Avoid constipation: Lack of water clogs up the system and builds up toxins; plus when the body doesn't get enough water, it takes what it needs from internal sources leading thus to constipation.
4. Avoid joint pains: Lack of water makes the cartilage brittle and hampers their ability to function properly (cartilage is made of about 95 per cent water). This increases friction in the joints, resulting in joint deterioration and pain.
5. Beat back pain: Minimising back pain can be as simple as hydrating our body. The water stored in the spinal disc core supports approximately 75 per cent of the upper body's weight. When the disk dehydrates, it loses its efficiency and this may lead to back pain. Yes, our spine is dependent upon the hydraulic properties of water.
6. Make headaches disappear: Dehydration is a major factor for headaches and migraines. Migraines usually occur because of excessively dilated blood vessels due to stress, heat and dietary allergies. Dehydration can worsen each of these factors.
7. Make the skin supple: A dehydrated body robs the skin of water, leaving it dry and papery. Water hydrates us from inside out, creating a fresh, healthy look. So the easiest, most natural way to a radiant skin is - yes, drinking enough water!
8. Prevent bloating: When we don't drink enough water the body starts retaining extra water to compensate for this shortage. This water is often stored in extracellular spaces and shows up as bloated face, hands, legs and feet. So, to eliminate water retention we need to drink more fluid rather than less.
Get enough H2O
So, during winter months even if it seems daunting, you must keep sipping.
1. Take water breaks throughout the day, always carry a water bottle with you when travelling, have a glass of water with meals, and never ever say no when people offer water (just down the glass as a bonus).
2. Maybe switch to slightly warm water if need be, or have water boiled and flavoured with ajwain (carom), saunf (fennel) seeds or basil leaves.
3. Increase intake of warm beverages like green tea, soup and warm milk.
4. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, both lead to dehydration.