There are many reasons why we need to drink water even when it is cold. Yes, you read right.
The sight of water in the cold season does not always arouse any sense of thirst. People tend to consume little water if any because the rate of respiration goes down significantly during the cold season. This reduced water intake can rightly be attributed to inactivity, less water loss through sweating among other things.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
This is one of the oldest debates you will encounter. There is no simple answer to this question. Experts do agree though that knowing about your body’s need for fluids will guide you in estimating just how much water you need.
Some studies have argued that one drinks eight glasses of cold water or about one litre each day. This is according to the United States’ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which recommended daily intake of water from both food and drink to be around 3.7 litres for men and 2.7litres for females.
However, a study carried out by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in 2013 indicated that many adults took less than four cups of water a day, which is way far below the recommended amount.
The importance of water intake, which can either be plain or in food and other drinks, cannot be overstated for the many functions it plays in the proper physical, mental and psychological functioning of the body.
First, water helps in rehydration of skin to prevent skin disorders that include wrinkling. Skin is the largest part of the body which, in most cases, is exposed to the external environment and heat. Being a respiratory organ, it loses most of its moisture and requires constant rehydration. Hence drinking water will help in creating a respiratory balance and keeping the skin healthy.
Have you ever wondered how it would be like, to put food in a dry mouth that has no saliva? The thought of chewing alone shows how difficult it can be. Drinking water helps in the formation of saliva in the mouth which, among others, help in chewing of food, digestion of starch and facilitates easy swallowing of food into the stomach; mechanical processes which could otherwise be an impossibility.
Water is Life
According to the American Lung Association, flu is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. The effects of flu that include body weakening can get your school or work activities stalling and thus affecting productivity. Flu is common during cold seasons, and one can fight by drinking water. A report published by the New York Times indicated that “Drinking fluids will diminish your headache and also bolster your immune response because your protein soldiers are conveyed via bodily fluids. Dehydration hampers their movement.” The study concluded. This is another way of saying that your health in this cold season is as assured as the amount of water you take.
Water plays a central role in the removal of impurities from the body, especially in the form of urine. It aids the kidneys in cleaning the body by dissolving soluble waste materials and is flushed out in the form of urine. This prevents the formation of kidney stones which are hard deposits of minerals and salts formed inside the kidneys may alter the functioning of the vital body organs.
Blood consists of 90% water. The transportation of oxygen by blood to all body organs therefore, depends on the water in the body. If the body is adequately dehydrated, the intake of oxygen may be altered causing headaches, breathing complications among others.
In addition to that, water is used in uptake and transportation of soluble minerals such as iodine within the body, without which the body would develop complications.
Finally, water helps in reducing and moderating acidity levels in the stomach. This is important because when the PH is too low, it affects the activity of enzymes in the body. In addition, it averts the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers. It also helps in preventing constipation, as the enzymes will work optimally to effect digestion.
True to the saying, water is life. And I add, you can’t afford to take in life sparingly. Be generous to self and drink enough water.
