That is, of course, until I wake up the next morning. A hangover-like headache reminds me (oh-so painfully) that I’ve fallen victim to dehydration.
In the summer, you have external cues to remind you to drink more water, like higher temperatures and increased perspiration. A cool drink on a summer day isn’t just about hydration; it’s simply refreshing. Winter hydration cues are less obvious.
You might be sweating less, but your body is still perspiring. And, that cloud your breath makes when you exhale into cold air? There’s water in that too. What’s more, blood vessels constrict in cooler weather, elevating blood pressure (known as vasoconstriction). In order to relieve this increased pressure, the body cues the kidneys to increase urine production. When you urinate, blood pressure returns to the baseline, but you’ve lost even more water in the process.
So how much water should you drink throughout the day? The rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces daily. So if you weigh 140 pounds, aim for 70 ounces – a little more than half a gallon.
Winter hydration is about keeping water consumption top of mind. Here are 5 tips to stay hydrated and keep your body operating at its peak during winter.
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