The hot blazing sun and sweating in summers makes all of us rush to the magical powers of water. However, water is important not only in summers, but in winters too. If water rejuvenates and refreshes you in summer, it does so in winter too. However, most of us just don't think about water during the cold winter season and the reason is quite obvious: we don't sweat and neither do we feel hot and thirsty.
Why Water is important in winter?
During winters, our appetite rises and we tend to eat richer food. This leads to more water requirement by the body to digest the food. Thus, you need to provide your body with adequate amount of water so as to aid digestion and avoid digestion related problems. Similarly, water is needed for keeping your skin soft and supple during the dry wintry conditions. Providing adequate amount of water to your body also aids in preventing various problems like sinuses and congestion which are frequent during winters.
How much Water should I drink in Winter?
The body requirement of water varies in people but the thumb rule is:
- Women need about 6-8 glasses of water
- Exercising women need 8-12 glasses of water
- Lactating women need about 7-10 glasses of water
- Men need 8-10 glasses of water.
- Exercising men need 10-14 glasses of water
How can I increase my Water Intake?
There are many creative ways to use water in winters. In order to drink so many glasses of water you can use these following tips:
- One can drink it as hot water after meals which aids in digestion and weight loss.
- One can drink it as herbal infusion of chamomile, jasmine, cinnamon etc.
- One can drink clear soups with less salt. Drinking soups at night (with less salt) is great for asthma for several reasons, firstly if one drinks soup at night then by default one eats less as a result the stomach is lighter. This prevents heaviness and wheezing all night. Soup containing ginger and garlic also aids to open the airways which is very important for asthmatics.
- One can also have herbal tea as it is rich in antioxidants.
- Water can also be used as a humidifier in the room, specially for children so that too much of dry heat does not make their nostrils dry.
- For adults, you can take steam bath as it has many benefits. It is good for the joints and other pains. It is good for opening the blocked nasal sinuses. Steam is excellent for relaxing the back muscles and opening up the muscle spasm. Hot fomentation can be used for any locked joints or muscles.
- Avoid solid concentrated food with very little water as it leads to indigestion.
- For people with piles, you can eat water rich salads like carrots, lettuce, spinach, steamed broccoli, olives, apples, tomatoes etc.
Psychologically, it's easy to skip hydration breaks during winter because you are less likely to feel thirsty. But the consequences are much higher, as dehydration can accelerate hypothermia, frostbite or fatigue. Therefore drink and eat at frequent intervals to keep up with the demands of your body. The main point is you need water in winters as much as you need in summers so as to remain healthy and fit.
