Importance of Staying Hydrated in Winter and Fall

Many people become less intentional about their water consumption when cooler weather arrives. Your water bottle – a regular summertime companion – seems to start tagging along with you less often just as the leaves start to fall. But, is staying hydrated any less important in cooler temperatures? How should you approach hydration during the fall and winter months?

What Happens When the Weather Changes?

In the summer, it’s easy to tell when you need to rehydrate – your body tells you pretty clearly by making you feel thirsty. And, for a whole host of reasons, including the fact that you sweat more during warmer weather, you tend to feel thirsty more often in the summer months. The more you sweat, the thirstier you feel, the more often you drink.

When the weather turns cooler, people tend to sweat less. They still shed moisture through perspiration – it’s just that the process isn’t as noticeable. As a result, people tend to feel 40% less thirsty during winter. The less visual and physical cues they receive, the less water they drink.

It is especially important to purposefully manage your water consumption during winter – precisely because you feel thirsty less. This happens because your body naturally begins to conserve heat when exposed to cold temperatures. In this mode, your body automatically diminishes its thirst response and increases urine production. When you account for the fact that your sweat evaporates faster in colder air and more fluid is expelled in your breath in such conditions, it’s easy to see how you can become dehydrated quicker on a winter day than a summer one.

Why You Need to Stay Hydrated in Fall and Winter

Staying properly hydrated is important year-round. For one, dehydration can lead to fatigue and sluggishness. And, that’s no way to go about your day.

But there are additional benefits to drinking the recommended amount of H2O daily, throughout fall and winter:

• Cold, dry air can be pretty rough on your skin. A daily water regimen can help you keep your skin from drying out. That’s even more important for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions, like atopic dermatitis.
• Staying hydrated can help you stay warmer. Your body can only maintain its proper temperature when it has enough water. Dehydration in fall or winter can cause your core body temperature to drop – the last thing you want.
• Proper hydration is also important for your body’s ability to break down fat and regulate your digestive system. Even if you become less physically active when the days get shorter, drinking water can help you stave off weight gain.

Kids Need Proper Winter Hydration, Too

Drinking the right amount of water daily may be even more important for children than adults. Why? Studies have shown that consumption of water can impact educational outcomes.

There is evidence to suggest that hydration can positively impact attention, concentration and short-term memory. So, if you want your little Einsteins to succeed academically, pack their water bottles with their lunches every day.

Drinking water is also necessary to maintain a healthy immune system. Properly hydrated children are less likely to succumb to the gazillions of germs they are exposed to constantly. And, when they do wind up with the eventual cold, staying hydrated will help relieve symptoms by breaking up mucus, easing congestion and replacing fluids lost during fever.

Primo Is the Right Choice to Help You Stay Hydrated

Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? Primo can help you lead a healthier life through healthier water. Our Reverse Osmosis purification process eliminates harmful microorganisms, heavy metals, trace pharmaceuticals and pretty much everything else you wouldn’t want in your glass.

Do something good for yourself. Choose Primo water and start getting ahead of your daily water goal. Start living the Primo Lifestyle today!