Winter Hydration: Why Skipping Water Could Hurt Your Workouts

Winter is the month of cozying up in your bed, skipping chores and hydrating your skin every 15 minutes. But what about keeping your body hydrated? Winters may not tire you with scorching heat but it is still a dry season and the cold weather can make dehydration just as bad. Let’s understand how to stay hydrated, up your hydration game and add-ons to your hydration drinks this winter.

Hydration Goals

Winter fitness goals require you to take your hydration just as seriously as your summer ones. The key to setting, understanding and sticking to your body’s hydration requirement is to understand how your body reacts when it is well-hydrated vs when it is dehydrated. Some facts are:

• If you work out, you must consume at least 2.5 to 3 litres of water daily.
• For athletes, the requirement increases depending on their sport and training intensity.
• Factors like sweat loss or adding supplements to your diet also impact your hydration requirements
• Having creatine helps increase water retention in muscles which is great if you are into bodybuilding hence you need to up your hydration game.

What Happens If You Are Not Hydrated?

Hydration is important for many bodily functions such as

• Lubricating joints
• Supporting heart health
• Glowing skin

What happens if you are dehydrated?

• You get cramps
• Your skin gets dry and flaky
• You experience muscle fatigue
• You experience irritability
• Reduces your endurance

Best Hydration Drinks

Nothing can replace the role of water in our lives but when your body craves more or your active lifestyle needs to make up for the lost minerals, here are some of the best hydration drinks:

• Electrolytes like Hydr8 from MuscleBlaze make fulfilling your hydration goals tasty and effective.
• Coconut water is enriched with natural minerals and helps you stay hydrated while replenishing your lost minerals.
• Herbal teas for warmth without caffeine
• Infused water with berries or citrus fruits or sometimes herbs like mint, sauf, methi and so on

Drinks for Dehydration

If you feel dehydrated here are some drinks to help you replenish your fluids faster:

• Oral Rehydration Solution: These are quick ways to rejuvenate your body if you suffer from dehydration.
• Sports Drinks: They are convenient and energize you faster especially if the reason for your dehydration is extreme physical activity
• Smoothies: The goodness of fruits and yoghurt can help heal your body faster. 

Tips to Up Your Hydration Game

• Set reminders to drink water
• Carry a water bottle everywhere
• Get a 2L water bottle as a reminder to finish it by the end of the day
• Drink warm fluids
• Take sips of water when working out
• Track your intake
• Have hydrating foods like oranges, cucumbers and so on.

Takeaway

Whether it is winter or summer, that does not change the fact that your body has hydration needs that you need to fulfil. The cold may trick you into believing that you don’t need hydration or that you are hydrated enough but make sure that you pay attention to the signs your body gives. Just like you march towards your fitness goals, take your hydration goals along with you.