A recent survey reveals that 37 percent of Americans don't realize that the body needs as many fluids when the weather is cold as when it is warm--a problem exacerbated during the holidays as people drink more dehydrating alcohol and caffeine than usual. With 75 percent of Americans chronically dehydrated, Snow Valley Mountain Spring Water, a manufacturer and distributor of pure mountain spring water, launched The Center for Hydration Awareness in order to better inform Americans about the health benefits of drinking more water year-round. The Center for Hydration Awareness offers timely tips on hydration issues throughout the year, accessible through a toll-free hotline (800-766-9420, ext. 7).
"During the winter months, people generally do not drink enough water," commented Olympic medallist, Brian Walton, wellness director for Snow Valley Mountain Spring Water. "Dehydration is a year-round problem, and the headaches, fatigue and sore muscles that many people suffer from during the winter often stems from dehydration.
"As temperatures drop, simply staying warm requires your body to expend more energy, which means your body is losing fluids rapidly," he continued. "Because it is cold, many people don't realize they are sweating."
Walton offers seven Olympic-powered tips to beat dehydration this winter.
• Plan ahead. Bring a supply of bottled water with you when shopping, traveling or exercising this winter. Convenience encourages hydration so the closer at hand bottled water is, the more apt you are to drink throughout the day.
• Eight 8's. Drink at lead eight 8-ouce servings of water per day--more if you increase your activity level.
• Get a jump start. Drink before you feel thirsty. By the time you get that dry feeling in your mouth, your body has already started to dehydrate.
• Is it really hunger? To curb overeating, drink water with meals. Not only does this no-calorie option make you feel more full, sometimes hunger pangs are your body telling you that it needs water.
• Balance it out. For every serving of alcoholic or caffeinated beverage, make sure to drink at least one eight-ounce serving of water. You'll not only feel better in the morning, you'll likely reduce the number of empty calories consumed.
• Great beginnings, health endings. Begin and end the day with water. Your body loses water while you sleep, so drink a glass of water before bed and when you wake up.
• While you work out. If you are exercising, drink water throughout your workout. Taking frequent water breaks to replenish lost resources improves performance.
"Americans are drinking their way into dehydration–especially this time of year with increased alcohol and caffeine consumption," commented Barbara S. Levine, R.D., Ph.D., director of the Nutrition Information Center at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. "Fluids such as coffee, tea and alcohol actually are dehydrating. To remain healthy, a person must drink even more water when they consume these beverages."
The human body is composed of nearly two-thirds water and every cell, tissue and organ in the body requires water to function. Symptoms of dehydration can include fatigue, headaches, itchy skin, muscle cramps and constipation. In advanced cases, muscle spasms, delirium and even seizures or brain damage may result. Water converts food into energy by transporting nutrients throughout the body, regulates body temperature, flushes out waste products and moistens the tissues of the eyes, nose and mouth. Research indicates that a well-hydrated body functions more effectively, has a higher metabolism rate, is less likely to suffer from mid-day fatigue and resists colds and infections more easily.
Source: Snow Valley Mountain Spring Water
