Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in, and our bodies are constantly losing water from perspiration, exercise and even breathing. Dehydration has a lot of negative side effects, such as thirst and dry mouth, but can also include sleepiness or tiredness, headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness, and dry skin. In this case, dry skin refers to dehydrated skin. The difference is that dry skin lacks oil and dehydrated skin lacks moisture. Dehydrated skin is especially likely because of the cold weather and can be characterized by irritation, inflammation, itchiness and sensitivity; a feeling of tightness or tautness; a look or feel of roughness; slight to severe flaking or scaling; and fine lines, severe redness and cracks. To keep these symptoms at bay, always keep bottled water or your own reusable water bottle on hand.

Not all bottle water is created equal. Pay attention to the thickness of the bottle and where it comes from when choosing a bottle water brand. You may have noticed that some bottled water packaging is getting thinner. This thinner, lower grade plastic may be better for the environment but it’s not better for your body. Some bottles are at risk of leaching, meaning that chemicals in the plastic can affect the water after a certain amount of time. This is a big reason why you shouldn’t reuse disposable water bottles. Many brands display where their water comes from on the packaging, but for others you might have to do some research. If a brand says “from a municipal source” or “from a community water system” that means it was derived from tap water. If it is difficult to find information about a bottled water brand then you probably shouldn’t be drinking it. Find a brand with a known protected source and one that makes testing and treatment information that shows high water quality readily available. Our top pick is Smart Water. It fits all this criteria, and it also has the added benefits of electrolytes. Electrolytes, or ionized minerals, are important because they are what the cells in your body use to carry electrical impulses, like nerve impulses and muscles contractions, across themselves and other cells. This means they help your body run at optimal levels, and an electrolyte deficiency can cause cramping. That is why hydration and electrolytes are so important during and after a workout, especially in the winter months. Smart Water contains the electrolytes calcium, magnesium and potassium without any sugar, calories, fluoride or sodium.

If you would rather go with a reusable water bottle, there are a couple things to consider. They can be made from a variety of materials such as plastic, stainless steel, aluminum and glass. They each have their pros and cons. For example, plastic is durable, light and inexpensive, but can have a plastic taste and chemical leaching is a possibility. To avoid this, get a bottle that is BPA free. Fill it with filtered water, clean it often and dispose of it when it is no longer usable.

It is important to remember all this when performing seemingly simple activities like raking leaves, shoveling snow or holiday shopping on a hectic day because they will quickly dehydrate you. Get in the habit now and ensure you have a healthy winter!

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11730

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018