Why Do We Need to Drink Enough Water During Winter Months as Well?

Pronounced Urine Excretion Calls for Increased Water Consumption During Winter

Nimbu pani, fresh lime soda, cocktails, colorful mocktails, exotic ice creams and juices are naturally present throughout the city during summer months to provide some relief from the scorching sun. Caps, sunscreens and bottled water become essentials to provide relief from high temperature and outdoor activities. We go for a glass of water, especially cold water, every now and then to quench our thirst and safeguard us from dehydration that can happen anytime during summer owing to excess water loss from the body in the form of sweat.
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Winter wrecks your system in quite other ways-leaves your skin dull and parched and your body becomes dehydrated. Yes! Dehydration is not a condition that’s monopolized by summer but is a significant health concern during cold winter months as well. While we at least attempt to drink some water during summer the lack of thirst prevents us from sipping water even through an entire day during cold months creating greater concerns for us. Environmental humidity plays a critical role and central heating systems cause drier environments that lead to greater water loss that’s caused simply by the act of breathing.

The lack of sweat tricks us into believing that we are replenished with enough water but what we don’t realize is that during winter months sweat evaporates much quickly in the cold, dry air that can lead to dehydration. We tend to wear heavier jackets, sweaters and other clothing to keep us warm but the added weight produces more sweat leading to fluid loss. Surprisingly, colder the place higher is the water consumption required to compensate for the water vapour lost from the body. Another important contributor to water loss is increased water expelled out of the body in the form of urine. We keep forgetting the frequent visits to the restroom that’s made during the cold winter months that contribute to increase in dehydration risks. For us, sweat is the only indication of water loss. Maybe its time now to reverse this opinion and consider all other options too that trigger water loss from our body.

Eviction of Dehydration
Increased water loss in comparison to water consumption leads to dehydration. We don’t stop exercising during winter but lack of sweat prevents us from drinking water voluntarily after workout. We are likelier to drink hot beverages such as coffee and tea but neglect water consumption fearing its chillness or absence of thirst. But we need to realize that mild dehydration can impair functioning of cells lining blood vessels as much as smoking a cigar, lead to kidney stones, UTI and chronic kidney disease. While mild or moderate dehydration can be reversed by drinking more fluids severe dehydration needs medical attention. Know more about the debilitating health effects of dehydration by visiting the website www.firsteatright.com.

On an average, women need around 2.5-3 litres of water while men need around 3.5-4 litres of water per day. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of water and hence it is recommended to eat them during any time of the year for health and hydration. Irrespective of the season, set a water goal for yourself and work towards achieving it. If cold water hurts you slightly warm it up and drink. You can also go for hot beverages such as green tea, cinnamon tea and homemade smoothies to elevate water consumption in an interesting way. Prepare healthy warm soups and drink them to boost your spirits, energy and soothe your throat as well. Ensure to drink enough water after exercising to replenish lost water stores. Keep hold of a water bottle that stays with you all through the day and sip it every now and then.