How Much Water Should You Be Drinking in Winters?

As much as winters remind us of fresh vegetables, hot ginger tea, cozy woolen outfits, and freedom from stinking sweat, what we often overlook is our water consumption. Our body is 70% water, and it longs for hydration, perennially for normal, healthy functioning. However, your water intake reduces, particularly in the winter season, making your body prone to flu, fatigue, dryness, headache, weakness, and muscle cramps. Know how much water you should drink in winter and the tricks to stay hydrated.

Why Don’t We Feel Thirsty in Winters?

During summer, due to higher temperatures, we quickly lose water to sweat, work, and heat, and it becomes easier to fulfill the water requirements of the body. However, due to a drop in temperatures, the air is drier, you don’t sweat much, and as a result, you don’t really feel the urge to hydrate. It is quite possible that you might gulp in 4 cups of coffee but wouldn’t care to consume even 4 glasses of water throughout the day. However, during this period, we constantly lose water to functional processes like digestion, urination, respiration, excretion, and wear and tear of cells and tissues. So, even though you might not feel thirsty but become dehydrated without realizing it. This is called winter dehydration and is extremely dangerous for your body. It might lead to dizziness, weakness, muscle stiffness, weight gain, kidney stones, and improper digestion

How Much Water Does Your Body Need in Winters?

Here’s a quick guide of quantity apt for your body as per your physical requirements to keep your water intake steady.

Tips to Stay Hydrated During Winters

1. Set Alarms for your Water Breaks 

Keep track of your water intake by setting alarms and goals for the day. You can even take the help of applications to remind you every now and then. Sometimes, the only way to consume more water is to make efforts for your body deliberately. Keep a water bottle with you at all times. Small sips throughout the day are easier than chugging all at a go.   

2. Switch Over to Warm Water

To avoid the chilling effects that the cold water has on your teeth and throat, you can slightly warm it and store it in a thermos for a long time. It will also relieve you of indigestion, nasal congestion and improve blood circulation. The benefits are manifold.

3. Consider adding Soups, Coconut Water, and Juices to your diet

    If plain, tasteless distilled water appears like a task, you can always include coconut water and fresh fruit juices loaded with minerals and vitamins. Home-made soups can be further incorporated in evening meals to ensure you don’t remain unhydrated. You can also switch over to alkaline water, which tastes better than distilled water and reaps numerous benefits.

4. Green Tea Helps 

Green tea, a natural diuretic, is packed with the goodness of polyphenols called tannins which cause urination and increase your thirst. It is also an undisputedly healthy beverage aiding brain function, mental alertness, lower cholesterol levels, and metabolism. 

5. A glass in the morning, another at night... 

As soon as water touches your tongue, it will instantly wake you up. Also, another at night will aid you in digestion and give you quality sleep. Developing this habit might take a while, but it is one of the easiest ways to kickstart your day with the goodness of water, especially in winters. You can also consider squeezing a lemon or two or adding ginger and honey to your morning schedule to cleanse your body, improve metabolism and lose weight. 

The Final Word 

As much as the quantity of water you consume is essential, you must ensure that it is ionized and detoxified, and fortified with minerals like magnesium and calcium. Moreover, a balanced pH level in water boosts your immunity.