Why Hydration is So Important to Your Health in the Winter Months!

The cold winter months can be harsh on your body, with ever-changing temperatures and less sunlight – it’s important to make sure you’re adequately hydrated to help your body cope with the seasonal changes.

Dehydration is a serious health risk, so it’s crucial to avoid the dangers associated with not drinking enough water, such as feeling fatigued and lightheaded.

Drinking plenty of water during winter can offer several health benefits. It helps to flush out your system and rid it of toxins, as well as boosting energy levels, keeping skin supple and preventing infections. Plus, it can even reduce cravings and help with weight loss.

Many people associate dehydration with sweltering summer days; but don’t be fooled, dehydration isn’t limited to hot weather, you CAN still get dehydrated in cold weather.

As the weather cools, we find ourselves wrapping up in more layers and turning on the heating. This artificially warm environment coupled with the dry air of artificial heating leads to winter dehydration.

Winter dehydration is harder to notice – particularly if you are not sweating and you are feeling cool. You may not have realized that you haven’t drunk any water during the day, particularly as your body’s thirst response significantly diminishes in cooler weather.

Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough fluid to function properly and can cause significant impacts to your well-being. It is vital you keep hydrated to regulate your body temperature, allowing your blood to carry important nutrients and oxygen around your body and remove toxins from your body.

But since people don’t necessarily associate dehydration and cold weather, they may be less likely to make a point to stay hydrated during the winter than during the summer.

Therefore, it’s important to remember that your body loses moisture all day, every day, through respiration, perspiration, urination, and bodily function, regardless of the temperature outside. So, it is crucial that you replenish your fluid levels by drinking water regularly throughout the day, not matter what the weather!

ZeroWater’s Top Tips for Staying Hydrated this Winter:

We at ZeroWater know that it is hard to remember to drink enough water regularly let alone in the cold winter months.

So here is our list of top tips for staying hydrated this winter:

• Don’t rely on thirst to tell you when you need to drink water. Make a point to drink a certain amount of water each day. A great way to ensure this is to invest in a reusable water bottle. This means you can carry water with you wherever you go to drink throughout the day.

• Eat fruits and vegetables! You can get water from the foods that you eat. Not only are fruits and vegetables good for you, especially during the winter, to get the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to be healthy, but they also help you stay hydrated.

• If you find it difficult to drink water when it’s cold outside, drink warm beverages like decaffeinated hot tea or herbal tea, as these will also help to keep you hydrated.

• Try to avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks that can cause dehydration.

We all know the importance of staying hydrated during the warm summer months, however for many of us our water intake declines over winter. However, it is even more important to drink lots of water during winter than it is during summer.

Here are five key reasons why you should up your water intake to stay healthy and hydrated over the winter months:

1. As previously outlined, by drinking enough water you willfight off winter dehydration. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of dehydration, for if you can recognize the signs of dehydration this can help you remember to drink more water and stay hydrated. Thirst, dark-coloured urine, dizziness, fatigue, and dry skin can all indicate dehydration. Keep on top of your water intake this winter to stave off dehydration!

2. Hydration protects your immune system as the winter months can be a testing time for our immune systems, with the many airborne viruses, especially this winter as Covid-19 continues to be spread world-wide. Dehydration can seriously weaken our immune systems barriers. The lack of water can dry out the mucous membranes in our lungs and sinus passages which can reduce their resistance to infections. Keeping well hydrated during winter ensures that the barriers used to protect your body from colds and flu are fully functional and completely intact. To ensure you stay fighting fit during the winter, make sure you keep drinking water regularly and fight back against the viruses.

3. You will have more energy! Keeping well hydrated will ensure your bodily functions are supported and run efficiently. When you are dehydrated your body functions slow down and use up your extra energy resources, leaving you feeling tired and sluggish. Taking sips of water regularly throughout the day will keep you alert and energetic during the day.

Feel & Look Your Best this Winter by Staying Hydrated!

4. Drinking enough water can also improve your skin as the dry and often stagnant air created from central heating can really take its toll on your skin. The dry air and the contrast between being in a warm room to going outside in the cold can cause your skin to crack and chap. Water is vital in keeping your skin cells full and hydrated, reducing the risk of chapping and peeling. Dull skin is another winter problem with the combination of dry air and a lack of hydration. Keep your skin glowing and healthy by drinking water at regular intervals, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

5. Hydration can help to fight winter weight gain. When the weather is miserable, and the days are dark our bodies crave comfort; often this manifests itself in comfort food. But we suggest before snacking this winter why not drink a glass of water beforehand? Our brains often mistake thirst for hunger and after drinking water that hunger trigger has been satisfied. This means you may not feel the need to snack or eat more food. Being well hydrated also helps our digestive systems to function and process food better, which is vital during the months when we tend to over consume. Make sure you drink plenty of water to give your body a hand in digesting food this festive season.

At ZeroWater, we want to guarantee your family is as healthy and hydrated as possible by providing you with Premium 5-Stage Ion Exchange Water Filtration Systems.

Our 5-Stage water filtration products is the solution for getting the purest-tasting water at home or in the office. Our premium water filters remove virtually all dissolved solids (aka TDS) – leaving nothing behind but pure-tasting water with each sip.

The 5-stage Ion Exchange filter is NSF Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS, Lead & Chromium. Get peace of mind knowing you have fewer contaminants in your home's drinking water.