Winter Hydration is as Important as in the Summer

We all know the importance of proper hydration. Water aids in just about every biological process and therefore hydration affects everything from digestion and skin health to brain function and physical capability. It’s recommended that the average adult drink half their weight in ounces every day in order to help with your body’s everyday functions. This includes winter months!

It can be easy to slack off on drinking enough water during the colder months, especially since the cold is known for reducing the sensation of thirst. Research shows, however, that body fluid loss in cold weather is almost as high as it is in hot weather. This is caused by a number of cold related reasons.

First, levels of sweat during everyday activities remains relatively constant from hot to cold months. This is due to people wearing warmer clothing that traps in heat and increases sweat. Additionally, cold air can dehydrate you through the air by increasing the amount of water lost through respiration and the skin. Finally, the cold can actually induce diuresis, or an increase in urination. All of these pathways result in dehydration levels comparable to the summer months.

So what can you do to stay hydrated this season?

• Wear more layered clothing
  • If one of the main loses of body fluids is through sweat, then it stands to reason that sweating less can help stay hydrated. Instead of wearing one bulky coat and a shirt, wear multiple layers of clothing. That way you are able to adjust your clothing needs to the outside and your internal temperature. This can help reduce excess sweating and keep you hydrated longer.

• Cut out diuretic drinks
  • You may think you’re hydrating whenever you drink fluids, but when it comes to hydration not all liquids are created equal. Diuretics, such as coffee, green and black tea, and certain caffeinated sodas, induce extra urination that can actually dehydrate you. Be sure to reduce these as much as possible so the water you drink can do the job it needs to do.

• Eat hydrating foods
  • Drinking isn’t the only way to keep your body hydrated! Foods like lettuce, cucumber, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, bell peppers, tomatoes, oranges, and grapefruits are all healthy and natural ways to eat your water. Eating foods like these can help boost your hydration as well as serving other beneficial services to your body.

• Use a humidifier indoors
  • The cold dry air of the winter loves to suck out the hydration from our skin making it dry and cracked as well as dehydrating our body. Using a humidifier in your office or home can help mitigate the effects of the cold by helping your skin retain its moisture, and helping you stay hydrated. 

• Continue drinking lots of water!
  • Of course, all the prevention in the world won’t keep us hydrated forever! Make sure to replenish your body’s water throughout the day by drinking ample amounts of water. As we mentioned before, we recommend drinking half your weight in pounds in fluid ounces. In other words, if you weigh 140 pounds, we suggest drinking at least 70 ounces of water each day.

Keeping hydrated is essential for health and wellbeing and could help prevent illness down the line.