6 clever ways to stay hydrated in the cold season

When you are dehydrated, the heart is forced to beat faster in order to circulate blood throughout the body. This strain on the heart could lead to heart diseases.

And while we tend to reduce the amount of water intake during the cold season, hydration in the cold season is as important as it is in the hot season.

ALSO READ: 6 signs that you are drinking too much water

Here are some smart ways to ensure that you remain hydrated throughout the cold season:

1. Warm water

Cold water feels great in hot weather but it’s the last thing anyone wants in the cold season. While warm water may not be your friend, you still will need it to stay hydrated. You can add a flavor to it such as lemon to improve the taste.

2. Drink even if you are not thirsty

Thirst is the body’s way to tell you that you need to hydrate. However, this hardly happens in the cold weather. But, this is not to say that your body does not need water. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, keep drinking.

3. Fruits and vegetables

Water feels tasteless at times. Fortunately, it’s not the only way to hydrate. Succulent fruits such as melons, pineapples, oranges, cucumbers and others will not only keep your body hydrated but also supply your body with other nutrients.

ALSO READ: 8 great health benefits of eating water melon

4. Monitor your urine

It’s very easy to get dehydrated in the cold season because your water intake tends to decline. All the same, monitoring your urine color will help you know if you are well hydrated. Under normal circumstances, the color of your urine should be pale yellow. So if the color has changed to dark yellow, you are definitely dehydrated and you should do something about it.

5. No coffee

Sadly, we all love coffee during the cold season. While you may not have to completely abstain from your favorite cup of coffee, you need to reduce the intake during the cold season. Coffee is a diuretic meaning that it makes you lose more water leaving you dehydrated. Other diuretics to avoid include alcohol and fizzy drinks.

6. Soups

Hot soups will keep you warm in the cold season and also hydrate your body. Soup lovers have another good excuse to add even more water to their meals. You can make pumpkin soup, chicken soup or get some bone soup from your favorite joint.