HANDY TIPS ON STAYING HYDRATED THIS WINTER SEASON!

Cold temperatures can make you less thirsty, which is why you may not drink up. Well, inadequate water intake can cause dehydration, which means your body will not have sufficient water for its functioning. That’s why you must consume enough water and fluids irrespective of the weather conditions. It is also important to remember that your body loses water when you pass bowels, urinate, or sweat. To add to that, indoor heating systems can cause water loss from the body. Now, if you do not drink up, you not only get dehydrated but also increase your risk of kidney stones, constipation, and urinary infections. Note, a significant percentage of your body, between 60 to 70%, is composed of water. Thus, you must drink adequate water to facilitate the various body functions. As such, water helps to boost immunity levels, maintain blood pressure, regulate body temperature, transportation of nutrients, and remove waste from the body.

In addition to feeling thirsty, there are many other indicators that signal toward dehydration. A good way to determine if you are dehydrated is to check the color of your urine, which is normally pale yellow in color. Among other signs of dehydration are dizzy feeling, headaches, unable to concentrate, dry mouth, chapped lips, increased heart rate, and irritability. Muscle cramps, fatigue, and dark urine color are other signs of dehydration. Also, coupled with diarrhea, if you are running a high fever or passing less urine, it would be safe to assume that you are dehydrated.

A range of factors determine the recommended amount of water for a person. It all depends on their age, physical condition, and lifestyle patterns. There’s a simple formula to calculate how much water you need in a day. A person requires 35 ml per kilogram of water of their body weight per day. So, if you weigh 60kg, you have to multiply 35 ml by 60 to know how much water to drink every day. Plus, if you sweat a lot or lead an active lifestyle, you have to drink sufficient water to replenish the water loss.

Here are some ways of maintaining body hydration when the temperatures become colder:

You have a wide choice in warm fluids to keep your body hydrated during the cold season. You can drink hot water with lemon, herbal teas, soups, or warm broths. By doing so, you not only maintain body hydration but also feel comforted during the cold climatic conditions.

If you find drinking plain water boring, you have the choice of adding flavor to your drinks. You can then also increase your water intake. To enhance the flavor of water, you can add fruit slices, lemon juice, or other unsweetened water flavors.

If you are drinking more than 2 cups of coffee in a day, you must stop doing so. Remember, caffeine has diuretic properties and you can lose water and electrolytes by consuming too much of caffeinated beverages. Hence, limit your caffeine intake and have 1 extra glass of water for every cup of coffee you drink.

Do not add alcohol to your fluid intake. You must also keep in mind that alcohol consumption can make you feel cold. Alcohol expands your blood vessels, boosting blood flow to your skin. This results in you feeling warm for some time before the heat from that extra blood passes out of your body, leading to a drop in your body temperature. Some people may also suffer from hypothermia after consuming alcohol. This means their body loses heat faster than it can generate heat, which causes their body temperature to fall considerably.

Make drinking water a habit no matter what the season. Carry your water bottle everywhere you go, keep a glass of water on your bedside table, and set hydration reminders.

You can keep your skin hydrated by applying a moisturizer. In doing so, your body does not lose water, preventing dehydration caused by the dry winter air. An easy way to maintain skin hydration is by using Kosmoderma’s Skin Hydrate capsules This unique formulation is rich in antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and omega-3 fats, all of which improve your skin health.

Indoor heating systems can make the surrounding air dry. So, you may want to consider investing in a humidifier to keep the air moist. You can then prevent moisture loss from the body while maintaining your skin health.

Besides water and fluids, you must also incorporate hydrating foods to increase your fluid intake. Celery, cucumber, orange, and watermelon are some foods that contain high water content. Add them to your daily diet to enjoy their goodness for your body hydration.

So, there are many ways of keeping yourself hydrated during the cold season. By following the given tips, you can counter dehydration and stay hydrated, which can go a long way in improving your overall well-being.

During wintertime, humidifiers come handy when it comes to regulating indoor humidity levels. Well, exposure to dry, indoor air can result in fluid loss via respiration. Humidifiers, by maintaining adequate humidity, can prevent dehydration that occurs because of respiratory water loss.

Cold weather can lead to loss of sodium and potassium from the body. You can maintain a healthy electrolyte balance by eating foods that are rich in sodium or potassium.

Caffeinated drinks and alcohol contribute to greater urine production and fluid loss, thereby causing body dehydration. For this reason, the health experts recommend limiting their consumption during cold weather.