The summer weather is hot, and you'll break into a sweat with even slight movement, so it's understandable that you should drink more water. In winter, the climate is cold, and people are less active, so it might seem unnecessary to drink so much water. In reality, however, the colder it gets, the more water you should drink.
People stay in warm indoor spaces and rarely go out, but this doesn't mean the body's water consumption decreases accordingly. When interviewed by a reporter from *Life Times*, Hong Zhaoguang, the Chief Health Education Expert of the Ministry of Health, did the math for us: depending on an individual's labor intensity and body size, a person needs to consume about 1600 milliliters of water daily to ensure normal metabolism. The body alone loses 300 milliliters of water through daily breathing, 700 milliliters through sweating, and at least 100 milliliters through bowel movements. Zhang Hude, a professor at the Health Preservation Department of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, told a *Life Times* reporter that the winter climate is dry with low air humidity, making it even more important to replenish fluids. If you don't drink enough water, your blood becomes thicker, which can easily lead to symptoms like thrombosis and trigger cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, drinking more water in winter can boost metabolism and help the body resist the cold.
Additionally, research shows that when the body loses just 5% of its water without timely replenishment, the skin will become dry. Moreover, in winter, people tend to keep windows tightly shut, leading to a lack of oxygen indoors. This can cause dizziness and a foggy head, and patients with cardiopulmonary diseases may experience difficulty breathing, leading to various health issues. Drinking more water, however, is beneficial for oxygen supply, facilitates smooth breathing, and helps maintain good physical condition. Therefore, it is recommended not to wait until you are thirsty to drink water in winter, especially for those with high physical exertion. Your diet should be light; if you consume greasy or salty foods, you should drink a couple more glasses of water. Additionally, hot tea is the most suitable drink in winter. Drinking two glasses of plain water upon waking and before bedtime is also advisable.