There is no denying the benefits of drinking your daily dose of fresh water. The health benefits alone make us visit the office water cooler on a regular basis, not to mention the amazing effect water can have on weight loss. The trouble is, we are happy to gulp down 6 to 8 glasses per day in summer, but we tend to scale down when the winter chill sets in.
Snuggle up with something hot
While we know that tea and coffee contains caffeine, and should be limited, there is nothing better than a nice hot cuppa on a chilly day. Unfortunately, these drinks cause more problems than they fix. Caffeine is a diuretic, so it leaves you even more dehydrated than when you started, with the added slump when the perky stimulant’s effects wear off. A great alternative is a cup of hot or warm water. It has all the hydrating benefits of cold drinking water, plus a few extra.
Happy benefits of hot water
In the winter months, we tend to have excess salt in our systems. Basically this happens because we don’t sweat it out as diligently as we do when the sun shines. A cup of hot water gets rid of these stuffy salts and cleans our skin cells at the same time. It also prevents sore throats by dissolving phlegm, cures stomach aches, improves blood circulation and keeps things moving in the digestive department.
A bit of grated ginger or a drop of honey adds extra warmth for the particularly frigid mornings. You can superpower the health benefits by adding a slice of lemon, especially if you’re suffering from excessive acidity. And adding a few carom seeds turns a cup of hot water into a cure for menstrual cramps.
The perfect temperature
Our bodies run at an ideal temperature of 37áµ’C (98.6áµ’F). Although we get a calorie burning jolt from drinking ice water when our bodies work to restore this ideal temperature, Dr. Lucia John believes any shock to the system is hazardous. Warming drinking water, even if is just to room temperature, makes it easier for the digestive system to assimilate, and prevents it from halting digestion by solidifying fats.
To reap the cleansing benefits of a good sweat, drink water above your body temperature, but not so hot that you don’t enjoy it. Rather boil your drinking water than get it straight form the tap as hot tap water can contain extra lead.
Whichever way you choose, drinking your share of water in winter can be easy and healthy, as long as you keep it cosy.
Living-Water sells water coolers and water dispensers in London.
