Experts say 75 percent of us are dehydrated during the winter and have no clue.
Water gives your body the ability to fight off infections and flush out toxins via urination. Water also carries oxygen to the brain and provides essential nutrients to all cells in the body. And when you’re dehydrated, especially in the winter months, it can cause you to feel low on energy and lead to mood fluctuations.
“Hydration is a key element to maintaining a healthy immune system,” says Jessica Bippen, a St. Louis based Registered Dietician. “Our immune system is highly dependent on the nutrients in our bloodstream and adequate hydration allows for these nutrients to flow.”
You can't get through a hot summer day without someone reminding you to stay hydrated, but when did you ever hear such a comment in winter? After all, the combination of colder weather, more arid air, and indoor heat actually create a condition in which people are chronically dehydrated.
Everyone's different, so the best way to tell if you're drinking enough water is if your pee is light yellow or clear.
Obviously OGN readers are smart enough to remember to stay hydrated, but we just wanted to highlight how essential drinking more water is during the colder months - especially since hydration boosts immunity and helps fight infection which, let's face it, is pretty important these days.