Importance of Water Intake in Winters

Water intake in winters is as important as it is in the summers, but unfortunately, it tends to decrease for many reasons. Winters can make us miss out on the essential staple that keeps us going- water. Thanks to the chilling weather and no heat, our thirst diminishes to the extent that we can easily go without water for even more than a day. We also presume that regular water intake is no more necessary since there is no sweating like in summers, hence any loss of water. Read more to find out why you should drink more water and how you can keep yourself hydrated in this winter season.

Why you should increase water intake in winters?

Reduced water intake in winters is a highly unhealthy practice. The change in season can only have a small impact in diminishing the requirement of water by the body and its importance. Here are some reasons why your water intake in winters should increase.

1. Dehydration may increase in winters: Your body loses water in ways more than just sweating, that may even increase in winters. The bladder tends to get full in winters more frequently which means you urinate more often.
2. Strengthen the Immune System: Water intake is important in the development of mucous membranes that bars the viruses and diseases from entering the body. Your body gets vulnerable to these bacteria and microorganisms in winters, because of which you catch allergies, cold and flu easily (Read 5 Most Common Allergies in winters.) A good water intake is therefore a winter requisite to spend a sickness-free season.
3. It maintains movements of Digestive Tract: Come the winters and you cannot stop indulging on yummy food and winter recipes. Complex food intake result is load on the digestive system. Water is needed to ensure that digestive tract is lubricated and to prevent constipation and other digestive problems.
4. Risk of Heart Failure: Heart attacks are more common in winters than the rest of the year. The reason is that reduced water intake thickens the blood, which makes it difficult for oxygen to circulate promptly. Water is hence immensely vital for healthy body in winters.
5. Skin needs Moisture: The dry winter air strips your skin of moisture, and so must also be kept hydrated all the time to prevent skin dryness. All these activities demand more water intake, for which you must maintain water intake of the day.

Approximate water intake in winters:

• Men — should approximately take 8 – 10 glasses of water
• Exercising men — require more than normal intake and should take 10 – 14 glasses of water
• Women — require about 6 – 8 glasses of water in a normal routine
• Exercising women — needs about 8 – 12 glasses of water depending on their workout.
• Lactating women — a women feeding the infant should take 7 – 10 glasses of water at least.

The quantities listed above are in approximation requirements and may vary depending on the gender, daily routine, medical conditions and activity levels of the person.

Increase Water Intake in winter through These Creative Ways:

1. Drink Herbal Teas: Thankfully, Drinking cups of herbal tea counts as water intake, medics say. A variety of flavors will not only be a treat for your buds, its rich antioxidants will keep you healthy and fresh. Choose from ginger, cinnamon, lemon, jasmine and many other flavors. Green tea has many benefits and a hot cup can be a good option to in winters.
2. Add soup to your meal: Having a serving of soup with the meals will not only give you a fuller appetite and warmth, it will also hydrate you in rather pleasurable way and will be an addition to your required daily recommended water intake.
3. Regularize drinking water: You probably will not be driven by thirst to drink water as long as the whole day, and so may not drink any at all. A tip is to bind yourself with regular intervals to catch up with the required water intake in winters. Regularize yourself to drink say, two glasses every four hours so that you stay well hydrated during the season.
4. Use water as a humidifier: Especially in winters a humidifier in the room can be a blessing, especially for children. It adds moisture in the dry indoor air of your room and not just protects your skin from dry air damage but also makes breathing easy, avoids static energy charge and makes the air feels warm.
5. Steam Bath: For adults, a steam bath can be a good option to instill moisture in body. This cannot replace the actual water intake that helps your skin in staying hydrated but it can help in relaxing your body and helping it to stay soft.