Water: Are you taking enough this winter?

You need to drink adequate water in Winter.

Otherwise, you may get Dehydrated.

Yes, that’s right… we are talking about Dehydration in Winter.

You are used to get tips to keep hydrated during summers.

All the media – social sites, television and print advises you to keep hydrated.

However, probably this may be your first tip to get hydrated in Winter!

 

How do you know if you are Dehydrated in Winter?

You may be Dehydrated if you are suffering from:

• Chapped lips
• Flaky or Dry skin
• Mild headache in winter
• Acne

A Strange sign that you may be Dehydrated-

Probably you have also experienced this.

Sometimes in winter,

even after taking sufficient quantity of food,

you still feel to be hungry.

In order to ‘feel’ your stomach is full,

you tend to over eat.

Many a times, this is the reason you put on weight in winter.

Actually, when even after having sufficient food, if still

you don’t feel to be full, you may be dehydrated.

All you need is to take some water at this time than

adding those extra calories in your stomach!

 

It seems obvious when we talk about dehydration in summer. As

you are aware of your perspiration and thirst during summer.

But, how do you get dehydrated in winter?

3 ways you get dehydrated in winter:

1.  Low water intake:

During winter you body needs to save energy.

So, it narrows down your blood supply in your hand and feet

(because of this your hand and feet become cold in winter)

and more blood flows in the center part of your body where

more important organs are present like your heart, lung, liver kidney etc.

Because there is plenty of blood present in your central part,

you don’t feel thirsty and, as a result you drink less water.

2. Increased urination:

As there is increased perspiration in summer,

your kidneys get signals to save water to prevent dehydration

and as a result, your urine production decreases.

However, during winter, your kidneys don’t get signal to save water.

So, your urine frequency increases.

Result: you lose more water.

3. Increased water loss in breathing:

When you breath the air in your lung,

you body mixes water vapor with it to make it warm and moist.

As the air is colder in winter, more heat and water

of your body is used to make it warm.

Result: unknowingly you lose more water on breathing.

 

So, how much water to take in winter to avoid Dehydration?

Just like in all the other parameters, for water also

there is not a fixed figure. There is always average.

On an average, you should take 2 to 2.5 liters of water in winter as well.

However, if you are a breast feeding mother, or

if you are doing heavy exercise, you need to take 0.5 liters extra to avoid dehydration.

 

Finally, how to make sure that you drink enough water this winter?

• Drink at least 1 glass of water every morning after waking up.
• in your work place, keep your own water bottle with you.

That will help you  measure

How much  water you have taken during the day.

• Take soup, green tea with ginger and, our own traditional ‘Raab’

In addition to giving required nutrients,

they will also re-hydrate you.

Make sure to keep yourself hydrated this winter.

Take care….

Providing simple solutions

for the complexities of life-

Dr Bhumita Makwana

Your Dietitian & Cosmetic Clinician