Thirsty? You should be! Just because its winter doesn’t mean you’re allowed to slack off. It’s just as important to drink water in winter as it is in summer.
Why, I hear you ask? We still lose just as much water in winter as in summer, from water vapour being expelled in our breath (that’s what’s in your frosty breath!), water loss from our skin, to processes designed to keep our body warm and cosy which cause more urination (which is why you seem to be taking more trips to the bathroom during winter).
Following are just some of the few benefits of drinking lots of water in winter, as well as some handy tips for increasing your water intake during this not-so-thirsty time.
Most adults lose between 2.5-3L water daily. And we lose even more if we are exercising.
According to the Australian Government, men should be drinking 2.6 litres of fluid or 10 cups of liquid a day and women should be consuming 2.1 litres or 8 cups of fluid daily to replace this loss and maintain optimal health.
Combat those bugs
Winter brings a lot of different bugs for the immune system to fight off and the body really needs to be in its most optimal disease fighting state to combat this. This mean adequate hydration for regular processes in the body such as detoxification and digestion, so the body will have the extra hydration ready to utilise to flush out all those baddies out of the system.
Get the skin sparkling
With winter comes the cold and the wind, which can be very dehydrating to the skin, which is doing it’s very best to protect us from the cold. So help your skin out a little! Give it the extra H20 it requires to stay healthy and keep us all snuggly and warm. It also helps to hydrate the skin so is particularly good for those who suffer from extra dry skin during the winter. Bonus! Sufficient water intake will help any toxins floating around to be flushed out via the urinary system, which means healthy glowing skin for you.
Detox-Detox-Detox
We tend to comfort eat in winter, sometimes having a bit more chocolate, red wine and naughty food and drink than we might usually. That means more toxins for the body to process. Water is required for and enhances our detoxification processes. So the more water we drink, the more quickly and easily our body is able to flush toxins and waste from the system.
Lift that Energy
Going for that second cup of coffee to keep you warm and energised at lunch time? You might just be dehydrated! Water is required for energy production in the body. And don’t forget, without enough water for the body to function extra energy is used to perform regular bodily processes. Which means less energy for other things. So next time you have that coffee craving, try a glass of water instead.
As we are all very aware, Winter has come. So you know what you need to do! Get drinking that H20!!
Handy Hydration tips
Do you have trouble drinking water? Find it lacks a certain…..something? Well we have some great tips to jazz up your water to make it that little more exciting.
- Squeeze it up – Add some citrus such as lemon, lime, orange or even some sliced strawberries and mint to your water to enhance the flavour and enjoy the added vitamin C benefits for your immune system.
- Make it bubbly – Sparkling water adds a little pizzazz to an ordinary drink.
- Colour it in – Add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of cayenne pepper to your glass. Not only will it look super bright - you’ll get the added antioxidant benefits of the turmeric, and the warming properties of the cayenne pepper.
- Cool it down – Make a large pot of herbal tea such as rosehip, peppermint or chamomile and allow it to cool. Then you’ll have lots of flavoured water to see you throughout the day.
- The green machine – Add some liquid chlorophyll to your water. Not only does it have a minty fresh taste, it helps to alkalise, detoxify and oxygenate the body.
- Warm it up – Kick start your day with a glass of warm water with either half a lemon squeezed into it or a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Make it a habit – Drink water at regular times every day so you don’t forget e.g. Drink a glass first thing when you wake up, another when you get to work etc.
- Constant reminder – Have a bottle or jug on your desk or somewhere it will be easily seen to remind you to have a drink.
- Winter Warmer – Okay okay we know it’s cold and you want something warm. How about herbal teas!? There are some really nice blends out there to try. How about giving teas like cinnamon and ginger a go? They will help keep you warm and hydrated this winter.
