A recent survey reveals that 77% of people don't realize that the body needs
as many fluids when the weather is cold as when it is warm.

Protecting your Health this Winter
Frost glitters on the ground, brown leaves rattle in the trees and the air is dry, dry, dry! Winter, with its abundance of colds and flu, is coming on fast. Did you know dehydration happens just as easily in winter as in the heat of the summer? As you move about in the cold, you may not be sweating, but water vapor is still being lost through your breath (that's the steam you see streaming from you mouth in frigid temperatures.)

Winter can also accelerate dehydration because mammals have a survival mechanism that constricts blood-vessels in cold weather, to conserve heat and maintain body temperature. Blood vessels shrinking increase blood-pressure. To lower the pressure, your kidneys make more urine, meaning less blood-flow to fill veins and arteries, more frequent trips to the bathroom and greater risk of dehydration.

Winter Dehydration is Hard on Your Health and Your Weight
Winter or summer, dehydration can cause exhaustion, muscle fatigue, cramps, loss of coordination and even a stroke. When dehydrated, you can also become more susceptible to winter colds and flu. No drinking enough water can also make it harder to keep extra pounds off during the shorter days when we tend to exercise less and eat more. When hydrated, your body is better able to break down fat for energy, your appetite is better controlled (it's important to note that we often think we are hungry when we are really just thirsty). Also, if your body doesn't get adequate water it holds the water it already has, so sufficient hydration is key to avoiding fluid retention.

How much water should I be drinking?
As you know, being thirsty is a signal that your body is already on its way to becoming dehydrated. Another indication that you should be hitting your water bottle more heavily is urine that is not clear or light-colored. One rule of thumb is to aim to drink half your body weight in fluid ounces - that means 140 pound woman should aim to drink 70 ounces of water per day.

Here are 5 simple ways to keep you hydrated:

1. Balance out diuretics with water. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics (they cause more water loss through urine) so when having either, make sure to drink extra water to balance the dehydrating effect. Try drinking decaffeinated coffee and/or herbal tea as well.
    
2. Water-based foods count! Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of water, along with adding valuable vitamins and minerals. Soups too, of course!
    
3. Cut back on sodium. Salty foods can make you excessively thirsty and can also lead to bloating.
    
4. Drink before, during and after exercise. This is harder because when it's cold outside you may not sweat much or feel too thirsty. But it's necessary!
    
5. Add natural flavor to plain drinking water without calories or salt. All natural Lemon, Orange and Lime all help make drinking water or tea more delicious, and provide a boost of natural Vitamin C.

Improve the quality of your drinking water with Glacier Mountain's natural
Spring Water, conveniently delivered to your New Jersey home or office.