Healthy Tips: Hydration

If you ever notice typically in late October or early November that when you wake up in the morning your nose and throat feel dry? This is because as the weather gets colder the air often gets dryer or the relative humidity drops and we loose more body water. This body water loss is significant because 70 percent of the water our body looses is by breathing and we typically don't think to rehydrate because of simply breathing.
An decrease in body water often affects the sinuses, mouth and throat first leaving us more susceptible to infection. This decrease in body water also can create a generalized pro-inflammatory state throughout your body causing more symptoms of aches, stiffness and even muscle spasms.
The solution is not as simple as it sounds, drink more water, and at least 10 to 12, 8oz. glasses of water a day. ( a google search can help you find the right amount for you based on body size and activity level ).
This is definitely a difficult habit to create especially when a cool glass of water does not sound appealling when you are already cold (try warm water without the tea or coffee), but the health benefit are huge and cost effective too. Maintaining optimal hydration can help cleanse the body of holiday over-indulging, it can make you feel fuller quicker and lessen consumption, it can improve organ function and maintain healthy muscles, skin, hair. Sounds like it should cost more.
Note that there is no replacement for pure water, tea, fruit juice, coffee, and soda do not count.
You should notice some benefits in the first few days but it does take approximately two weeks to rehydrate the depleted extracellular fluid to gain the full benefits.
The cost and health benefits are worth the extra trips to the bathroom.
Don't forget that once you get started maintain it, set yourself up for success and buy yourself a nice new shiny, non-plastic water bottle to increase your focus as you begin.

Dr. McMaster