It is important to consume water in cold weather too

Bozkurt made statements regarding the importance of water consumption during the winter months. Expressing that the desire to drink water decreases even more, especially on cold winter days, Bozkurt said, “Thirst is actually a natural physiological event.

It shows that our body needs more fluid to carry out its various processes. That is why drinking water regularly in all 4 seasons, even without feeling thirsty, is very important for our health.”

Providing information that the daily water requirement of a healthy adult individual is on average 8 - 12 glasses per day, although it varies according to the calories consumed, Bozkurt said, “The milk, ayran, freshly squeezed fruit juice, mineral water, and even soups we drink are necessary for our daily healthy water intake.

However, the tea and coffee we drink in large quantities cause excessive urination and water loss from the body due to the amount of caffeine they contain,” she stated.

BEWARE OF HERBAL TEAS

Pointing out that various herbal teas used for constipation, edema removal, and weight loss cause excessive fluid loss because they increase urination and cause diarrhea, Dietitian Bozkurt said, “Let us not forget that herbal teas contain active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Echinacea, which we use for a simple cold, can lead to allergic reactions; green tea, which we use for weight loss, can lead to sudden blood pressure changes; and ginger and turmeric can lead to various health problems with their blood-thinning effects.

For this reason, we should consume herbal teas 1 or 2 times a day, and if we have health problems and a medication we use regularly, we must ensure that these herbs do not interact with these medications. We can get help from a physician or a dietitian to access this information,” she said.

"FLAVORED DRINKS ARE NOT A FLUID SOURCE"

Underlining that water is the healthiest choice among all beverages, Dietitian Bozkurt finally noted the following:

“Although ready-made fruit juices and various sweetened, flavored drinks are seen as our fluid source in daily life, they are not healthy options due to the chemical sugar, caffeine, additives, and preservatives they contain.

When we evaluate all beverages, water is simply the healthiest choice. Beverages we consume daily such as tea, coffee, and fruit juice do not replace water.

They even cause water loss from the body. Therefore, our water should always be in front of our eyes and at our fingertips at work, at school, and at home. No matter what age we are, let us always take care to drink water to live a healthy life.”

News Source: İHA