Drinking less water in winter? Here’s how it affects your body

Did you know 70 percent of our body is made up of water? So, you need water throughout the year to keep your body hydrated and in good condition. It becomes crucial during the winter season as the air lacks moisture and may lead to problems like indigestion, detoxification, etc. Studies have shown that drinking sufficient water helps regulate body temperature, avoid infections, promote bone health and keep your overall health in check. So, you can’t really compromise on your daily intake of water.

Dr Shobha Subramanian Itolikar, Consultant-General Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai, tells us what happens when you don’t drink enough winter and what you can do to stay hydrated.

What happens when you don’t drink sufficient water in winter?

The cold weather will make you sweat less, so we tend to ignore how important it is to stay hydrated during winter. When you don’t drink enough water, your body becomes vulnerable to several health issues.

We generally sweat less due to the cooler climate during winter. So, we tend to not give much importance to hydration during these 3-4 months. As a result, the body suffers from water deprivation and its ill effects. The expert highlights that drinking water is vital to maintain overall health as it plays an important role in maintaining digestion, electrolyte balance, weight regulation, detoxification, etc, , shares Dr Itolikar.

Here are the reasons why you should stay hydrated during the winter season, as explained by Dr Itolikar:

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1. Thirst reflex

When you don’t drink enough water, your thirst impulse is impaired, and as a result, you don’t realize your state of hydration. So, you must consume at least 6-8 glasses of water every day to avoid the problem.

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2. More urination

Do you often feel the urge to pee more than usual during winter? Since you tend to sweat less in winter, your body tries to regulate body temperature by excreting fluid throughout your kidneys – a condition known as cold diuresis.

3. Dry skin

Does your skin get dry during the winter season? The main reason for dry skin in winter is dehydration. Our dry wintry cannot retain moisture, so there is insensible water loss from the skin even if we do not sweat much.

Also Read: Combat dry skin in winter with your diet! Add these 6 things to your diet

How can you fight water dehydration?

Dr Itolikar suggests the following ways to avoid getting dehydrated in the winter season:

• Make sure you are drinking sufficient water by setting reminders
• Try to add other drinks like juices of fruits like melons, citrus fruits, etc.
• People tend to confuse hunger with thirst, and they end up binge-eating foods they shouldn’t. So, drink water first before eating something the next time you feel hungry.
• If the signs of dehydration show on your skin, moisturise it well and drink more water.

Winter or not, you must drink sufficient water regularly to avoid complications like dehydration which can put your health in jeopardy.