The Importance of Drinking Water in the Winter

The winter months are upon us! Here at the Teen with a Dream headquarters we are in the mist of the continuous off-and-on falling of snow. During these months it is easy to turn to our favorite comfort foods and stay in doors. These foods tend to be high in sodium and calories which can absorb our body’s hydration.

This can have profound impacts on our water in-take. Water is arguably the most significant aspect of our diets. It is the resource that helps keep our body’s healthy and functioning. This is especially important for pediatric cancer patients! 

Why is water consumption important for the body?[Source].

1. Balance of bodily fluids. “The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature”
   
2. Water helps energize your muscles. Muscles must maintain balance of fluids which if not done-results in muscle fatigue.
3. Skin Hydration. As we have shared before, chemotherapy can effect your body’s skin, hydration will help restore moisture into your body’s largest organ.
4. Kidney Function. Kidney’s are the filter of our body’s and ensuring proper hydration will help them do their job of ridding the bad out of our body’s. 

Simple ways to help increase your water in-take:

1. Freeze lemon, lime or orange slices to add a little flavor to your water
2. Create a goal chart of how many glasses of water you would like to consume everyday
3. SPLURGE! on a water bottle to take back and forth with you for treatment days! One water bottle company we love here at Teen with a Dream is Hydro Flask! It is a double insulted and vacuumed sealed water bottle that keeps your beverage hot or cold for 24 HOURS!