For the last few months or so, we have been staying indoors as much as possible to counter the pandemic that has affected the whole world. As a result, most of us have been indulging in a lot of unhealthy food habits to counter boredom. To help manage the side effects of those habits, there is an important habit we should adopt if we are not already doing it: drink plenty of water. You might have heard this advice a million times before, but this has more relevance now given the current circumstances we are in.
Hydration is also key to regulating our core temperature, and dehydration can exacerbate an existing fever. Small losses in body fluid can cause body temperatures to rise. The amount of water needed to stay hydrated has gone up from the typical 8 glasses a day that was typically recommended. Our bodies need quite a bit of hydration every day. For women, it is 2.7 liters (around 11 glasses of water) whereas men need to consume about 3.7 liters (16 glasses). Staying hydrated also means healthy membranes. When we cough, sneeze and just breathe, membranes in our nose and mouth eliminate bacteria. Moisture helps heal the broken membranes so additional infectious organisms cannot enter the body.
There are many benefits drinking more water can provide you during this outbreak:
- Increasing water intake can make your body process more efficient, which is important for the immune system.
- Drinking water can also improve cognitive function, which will make you more aware of your behaviors, potentially leading to healthier and safer decisions.
- Lastly, and most obviously, drinking more water will make you go to the restroom more often. Assuming you abide by socially-accepted hygiene protocols, this will mean an increase in hand-washing which is very important to prevent the pandemic.
- By drinking more water, you are flushing out harmful toxins, which can have adverse effects on your body. This will build up your immune system, which will make your body stronger.