The summer months are known for their higher temperature, so most people stay hydrated over this period. However, when winter comes, our water intake drops. This is understandable, considering the cooler weather conditions are different from what we experience during the hot summer days.
But the truth is drinking lots of water have nothing to do with the time of the year. You should even drink more water during winter than in the summer. This post highlights five major reasons for increasing your water intake and staying hydrated during the cold months.
When Is Water Too Much?
You can drink as much water as you can within a day. That said, you need to watch out for water toxicity—the kidney filters over 0.7 liters of fluid every hour. However, if you drink more than a liter within an hour for several hours, you can experience water intoxication. The first symptoms are low sodium levels (hyponatremia), nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, vomiting, cramping, and head pain. Overhydration hardly leads to death, but you should consult a doctor if you experience drowsiness or seizures.
Consider hot beverages.
Not everyone is comfortable drinking much water during the winter. If this is you, you can try out hot beverages. For instance, you can mix lemon with hot water or warm a cup of hot green tea. That way, you stay cozy while providing your body with the much-needed liquid for its seamless running.
Can you eat your water?
This is not a call to eat ice cubes. Instead, we are asking you to consider fruits and vegetables with higher water content. Consuming celery, strawberries, and broccoli will get you closer to your daily water intake goals.
Not every liquid is good for you.
You don’t have to drink every liquid that comes your way just to meet your daily intake goals. For instance, your body loses water when you drink alcohol and caffeine. Therefore, an easy way to stay hydrated is to cut soda, coffee, and alcoholic beverages intake.
Another cool hack is the air humidifiers. You can make the dry winter air wet by adding moisture, and this will help you stay hydrated and protected from dry skin and throat irritations.
Why Drink More Water during Winter?
You become more energetic.
If you regularly find yourself craving that midday caffeine boosts to get through the day, then you may be suffering from dehydration. Dehydration and daytime fatigue are synonymous. That is why staying hydrated is important. With sufficient liquid in your system, your body functions effectively and efficiently. The lack of water in your body system forces the body to resort to extra energy resources, leaving you exhausted and tired.
Have a glass of water close by and sip regularly to stay energized and alerted as you run the day.
You avoid winter weight gain.
We seek comfort in different forms, especially when the weather is not really friendly. Unfortunately, most people find theirs in sweet, unhealthy foods with high calories. But you can avoid this. How? A glass of water just before you sleep is an excellent place to start. When you are hungry, the brain usually mistakes it for hunger. So, drinking water makes the feeling go away, and you can go on without snacking or eating more food.
Drinking sufficient water also facilitates the seamless running of our digestive systems. That is even more important in periods when we eat more than usual. So, always drink more water to aid digestion.
What Are The Signs of Dehydration?
You may not easily notice sweats on your body during winter because of the cold. However, the multiple clothing layers covering our skin, combined with perspiration, cause subtle dehydration that we hardly notice. So, it is essential to stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water during the day.
Your immune system improves when you ensure adequate hydration, giving infections zero chance of attack. Also, staying hydrated in the cold weather can help you stay warmer. The water in the body helps maintain temperature balance. So, your body temperature drops without sufficient water, and you become cold.
How Do You Stay Hydrated?
Here are a few healthy ways to drink more water every day:
- Have a refillable water bottle close to you, and refill with drinking water every time you exhaust the content.
- Add flavor to your water by squeezing some fresh fruit in it.
- Replace soda with water after meals and snacks.
- Reduce or stop the intake of energy drinks, soda, and other sugary beverages.
- Introduce more vegetables and fruits into your meals for extra fluids.
These tips will help you make considerable progress in your quest to stay hydrated and healthy in the colder weather.
Finally…
We need water to survive. Unfortunately, we end up taking “just enough” to survive most times. That might be a problem in the long run, especially in the winter months. When the colder months come, drink more water than usual to stay healthy, strong, and overall better for the spring.
