Winter Hydration & Why It Matters

Summer's heat serves as a powerful internal reminder to hydrate better. However, as the winter months approach, we should continue to keep this in mind because, especially as we age, we can easily become dehydrated in both the summer and the winter.

Elderly People Are More Prone to Dehydration

Our ability to feel thirst decreases with age, which causes us to drink less water. Because we retain less water as we become older, older people are also more likely to become dehydrated. Even the low humidity of wintertime indoor heating might cause a person to get dehydrated more quickly than usual.

The last and most crucial item is medication. Our risk of dehydration may be increased by the medications we take. We can be taking drugs that can induce fluid loss as a side effect like vomiting or diarrhoea or we might be taking drugs that can remove water from the body and increase the amount we urinate.

When it comes to medications, find out if they put you at risk for dehydration by asking your doctor or a pharmacist.

What else can you do to maintain a successful winter hydration habit, then?

Decide on a daily water goal.

Of fact, maintaining hydration greatly depends on drinking plenty of water. A wonderful method to develop the habit of drinking water throughout the day is to always have a portable, reusable water bottle with you. So that it is ready to go when you are ready to start your day or when you are prepared to run out the door in the morning, place the water bottle that has already been filled in your refrigerator overnight.

Set timers to help remind the person you are caring for to drink water throughout the day. Get a water bottle with time marks as a treat to help you stay on track all day to achieve your goals.

Including hydrating foods will help.

The best tip for staying healthy over the winter may just be to eat your way to hydration. Include fruit with a high water content in your breakfast, such as low-fat yoghurt, strawberries, peaches, and oranges.

Prepare some grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew, bell peppers, cucumbers, celery sticks, and cucumber sticks for a snack. Include homemade soups or broths with low sodium on your winter meals.

Heat it Up

Caffeine-free herbal teas like chamomile, lemongrass, or ginger tea can keep you warm and hydrated. Your day should include warm lemon water. Even a healthy hot chocolate made with low-fat milk, dark chocolate, and maple syrup with less sugar can keep you warm and hydrated if you have a sweet craving.

Employ a humidifier

Your entire body can become dry and dehydrated due to the combination of the frigid, dry air outside and the heated, dry air inside your home. By maintaining moisture in the air of your house, a humidifier helps assist your body's need for water. Additionally, humidifiers encourage salivation and soothe dry, irritated skin.

Pay Attention to What Else You Drink

Not all drinks are made equally. Watching what we drink is just as important as watching how much. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, which cause water loss. Some of the advantages of consuming the fluid are countered by the caffeine in coffee, soft drinks, and tea, which causes your body to produce more water.

Even a cup of coffee tea might dehydrate you. Yerba mate, matcha, black, Pu-erh, and oolong tea are some of the teas with the greatest caffeine content, according to Medical News Today.

With so much to do and see during the winter, make sure your health is in tip-top shape by staying hydrated. Your body will appreciate it!