MILAN – As winter arrives, drinking a glass of water is not the most natural thing for people to do. Cold temperatures can sometimes reduce our sensation of thirst. However, this should not lead us to neglect our body’s hydration. Drinking the right amount of water on a daily basis is an important part of staying healthy all through the year, including in winter. Even in the colder months there are many factors that can increase the body’s water loss.
When are you likely to remain dehydrated?
Heavy workloads, stress, dry air and walks to and from work are just some of the factors that mean that our body can become easily dehydrated. Moreover, when you are very focused on work and the time available for completing the tasks assigned to you does not seem sufficient, it is easy to make the mistake of letting this overshadow proper nutrition, including hydration. In reality, dehydration can only make the situation worse, impacting negatively upon your productivity, personal safety and mood. As Ronald J. Maughan, President of the Scientific Committee of the European Hydration Institute, explains, “Even mild dehydration can impede your decision-making processes and both physical and cognitive performance.”
4 tips for preventing dehydration
Here are 4 tips from the European Hydration Institute for avoiding dehydration during the winter months:
- Drink regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty. The best drink is water, but milk, tea and other soft drinks also help us to meet our daily fluid needs.
- When you are at work keep a bottle of water within sight on your desk. This will make it easier to remember to drink.
- Even if it’s cold, do not wear clothes that are too warm. It is better to wear layers, choosing mainly breathable fabrics so as not to increase sweating too much, which leads to the loss of lots of liquid.
- Within your diet you should favour foods that have a high water content, such as fruit and vegetables, as they will contribute to your overall hydration. As well as consuming these foods with your main meals you can have them as a healthy and hydrating mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.
By editorial staff
