Water in the wintertime? But it’s not hot out!

No, it certainly is not, but your body needs water as much in the wintertime as it does in the summer.

Between sweating under 47 layers, breathing steam into the frigid air and warming up with a home heating system, your body is losing quite a bit of moisture during the winter.

Water is vital to keeping cells, organs and tissues healthy. It also keeps our immune system in good working shape, our skin supple and our lips in one piece.

It is important to drink an adequate amount of water during the winter to keep your body happy and healthy.

Important Reasons to Drink Water in the Wintertime:

1. During the wintertime, our bodies receive less moisture from the environment because of drier air. Also, the heating systems we use to warm our homes make the air dry and actually pulls moisture from our bodies.
2. We also lose moisture from our bodies through sweating – believe it or not. Just because the temperatures aren’t tropical doesn’t mean we don’t sweat in the wintertime. Oftentimes we are bundled up in multiple layers, which will cause our bodies to swear, even out in the cold.
3. The stagnant air of wintertime wreaks havoc on our skin. It can cause our skin to become dry and flaky as well as dull and lifeless. Also, going in and out from warm air to cold air can cause cracked and chapped lips.
   
4. Being dehydrated, which can easily happen in the wintertime, can weaken our immune systems and dry out the mucous membranes of the lungs and sinuses. This can open the door to infections, colds and flu.
5. In the wintertime, we tend to be less active and eat more high-carb foods. Drinking more water will help to satisfy your hunger triggers and aid in digestion. It will also help to clear toxins in your body that build up when you don’t move around as much.
6. It’s likely that, during the winter, you consume more hot and caffeinated beverages. These comforting drinks tend to contain a lot of sugar. This high sugar content can decrease your body’s water storage capacity. Also, caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, are considered to be diuretics. This causes you to pee more and expel more fluid from your body than necessary.

Tips for Drinking More Water in the Wintertime:

In the wintertime, we actually feel less thirsty than we do in the summertime. Because we are lacking the thirst triggers we are accustomed to having during hotter weather, it’s important to create and maintain healthy drinking habits.

Here are ideas that may help you drink more water during the winter months:

• Continue good drinking habits from the summer into the winter months.
• Have a glass of water as soon as you wake and right before you go to bed.
• Keep water handy wherever you are – at your desk, in the car and by your bed.
• Add sugar-free flavors to improve the taste.
• Eat more clear soups and broths.
• Drink herbal teas instead of black and green teas (these make you pee more).
• Buy a new water bottle – sometimes having something new and eye-pleasing can motivate you to drink more.
• Set a drinking goal and make a chart to track your progress.

How do you stay hydrated in the wintertime? Share your tips in the comments below!