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Earth Day 2024 – Planet vs. Plastics
Plastic Pollution is a Pressing Global Issue with Far-Reaching Consequences. Here are Some Key Statistics: Global Plastics Production: Global plastics production has doubled since the
Signs of Dehydration & How to Beat it this Winter!
Somewhere between hot boxing ourselves in small spaces and getting cosy in icy temperatures, dehydration can sneak up on us during the winter months too. We ditch the salads and portable water bottles because we don’t feel as thirsty. Instead, we cling to copious amounts of coffee and clothing that unknowingly makes us lose more fluids than we consume!
Here’s a few reasons why winter can dehydrate you and how to beat it:
Indoor heat really takes it out of you...
Water that is! While that home/office heater keeps you toasty indoors, it tends to really dry out the air. While it may not be humid, and you don’t feel sticky; our winter hibernating keeps us indoors which can lead to dehydration.
Yes, you’re still sweating!
When heading outdoors to exercise, you may want to bundle up in multiple layers. Because you don’t actually feel hot, you don’t realise just how much fluid you’re still losing. Perspiration in summer is in your face (and all over your body). While in winter, according to an article on CNET, “your sweat evaporates more rapidly, leaving less to accumulate or drip, if any. Since we usually equate ‘rehydrate’ with ‘sweat’, this may cause you to think that you don’t need to replace as much fluid as you normally do, especially during exercise.”
Where’s that water bottle?
It’s said that as the temperatures dip, so does our thirst. In hot weather, our water bottles tend to be at arms’ length but in winter, we tend to discard the water bottle and replace it with a portable, reusable (we hope) coffee mug.
Respiratory water loss
When your breath becomes visible in cold weather, that’s water escaping your body. When the air is dry, you actually lose even more water this way. While exercising, the more vapour produced and the more respiratory water loss.
Signs of Dehydration:
Dehydration happens when you lose more fluids than you consume and your body struggles to perform its very important functions. According to Kelly Barnes, a senior scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, monitoring your urine is the easiest way to keep an eye on your hydration status during rest. Through all of these stages, a common indicator that you’re dehydrated is infrequent urination or urine that is dark in color. If your urine is pale yellow, it’s healthy.
Signs of dehydration include:
- Minor headaches (quite often, a glass of water is all that is needed to cure a headache; not a pill!)
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Dizzy if you stand up too quickly
- Random muscle spasms
- Trigger migraines
- Dry mouth
- Dry skin
- Dizziness
- Lack of Energy
- Lose your ability to focus and concentrate.
- Increase in injuries if you’re an athlete or highly active.
A few hydrating habits to add to your winter days:
- Move around the house, your workplace or your city with a refillable water bottle. Don’t buy bottled water, ok? We have water filters that will give you brilliant filtered water from your kitchen tap or office; just top up on purified water throughout the day. Better still if it’s H2O | BWT’s Magnesium enriched water – better tasting and immune-boosting.
- Work tends to keep us sitting for hours at a screen plus we tend to get lazy and not move around as much. Keep a jug of purified water at your desk as a reminder to keep topping up your glass. (Especially if you happened to lose your portable water bottle somewhere in the car or at home).
- Don’t forget to add water-rich fruits and vegetables to your daily diet such as celery, tomatoes and watermelon. Even soups are great for adding to your water intake.
- Replace a dehydrating drink with a hydrating mocktail. Swirl some flavoured/sparkling water together with a few slices of slime, mint and raspberries for a delightful drink. And if you’re after something hot, pop a slice of lemon in hot water. While caffeinated beverages are everyone’s go to in winter, they can act as a diuretic in some people, so it’s advised to drink them in moderation and swap them out for some caffeine-free herbal teas or decaf coffee.
- When working out, ensure you are wearing the correct gear for exercising which allows your body to retain heat while permitting sweat to evaporate. If you don’t want plain ol’ water, grab a sports drink to help you replace electrolytes.
Whether you’re working remotely or constantly on the go, H2O | BWT has the water solution for your home and office. Our purified water supplemented with magnesium and zinc is perfect for water as it boosts your immunity and makes for great tasting water and water-based beverages such as coffee and tea. Shop now: https://h2o.co.za/purifiers-filter/
The information in this article is to serve as education and informative only and not intended as health or medical advice. Make sure you always consult your doctor or healthcare provider about any health concerns you may have.
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