Introduction: Besides the lack of moisture in the air, your body can also become dehydrated during the autumn and winter. In such cases, simply replenishing fluids is not enough; you also need to consider dietary solutions.
When facing these issues, many people's first reaction is to drink more water. In fact, the hydrating effect of pure water is often not the best, as it quickly passes through the digestive tract, enters the bloodstream, and is then excreted by the kidneys, leaving little time to moisten the throat and digestive tract mucosa.
If your discomfort is due to insufficient water, you should consider your hydration methods. Compared to pure water, water containing a small amount of carbohydrates (such as sugar, starch, and various plant-based gums) is much better. Since carbohydrates are hydrophilic substances, they attract many water molecules, slowing down the absorption of water and preventing its rapid excretion. This allows more time for the digestive tract mucosa to feel moisturized. Among small sugars, fructose has the best moisture-absorbing effect. A cup of light honey water made by adding honey rich in fructose to warm water, sipped slowly, can make your throat feel much more comfortable. Fruits also contain a good amount of fructose, such as grapes, pears, bananas, and persimmons. In addition to this, tremella soup, rich in tremella polysaccharides, is also an excellent hydrating beverage.
Papaya Tremella Soup
The second cause of dryness is a vitamin A deficiency. This is because vitamin A is essential for the synthesis and repair of epithelial tissue. If there is a severe deficiency, the resistance of the skin and mucous membranes decreases, the secretion of mucus and sebum is reduced, and mucosal immune function also declines. A vitamin A deficiency manifests as dry and keratinized skin, raised hair follicles, a rough and prickly texture to the skin, and even dry eyes. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that prefers to coexist with cholesterol. It is found in the liver, kidneys, high-fat fatty fish, egg yolks, and cream. Unfortunately, modern people consume very little of these foods; they often avoid organ meats and egg yolks, and drink skim milk. Carotene in plant-based foods can also be converted into vitamin A in the human body, but only orange and dark green vegetables are rich in carotene, such as carrots, pumpkin, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and sweet potato leaves. If you experience dry eyes, in addition to dietary supplements, it is best to take vitamin A capsules or cod liver oil under the guidance of a professional.
Pumpkin Glutinous Rice Soup
The third cause of dryness is improper diet, consuming excessive amounts of spicy, salty, and dry foods, which increases water consumption. When too much salt enters the bloodstream, it increases the osmotic pressure of the blood, causing blood pressure to rise, but water in the tissues decreases, naturally leading to dryness. When salt leaves the body, it takes a large amount of water with it, making the body even drier. Although chili peppers do not increase the osmotic pressure of human blood, they speed up skin blood circulation, causing the body to heat up and sweat more. This also results in a loss of body water. Roasted foods, such as fried peanuts, roasted sunflower seeds, and various baked nuts, are inherently low-moisture foods. After being processed at high temperatures to remove moisture, they become extremely dry. The protein they contain is a hydrophilic substance and desperately tries to reabsorb the moisture lost during processing. Therefore, as soon as these foods enter the mouth, the moisture in the oral and throat mucosa is mercilessly stripped away, making the throat and mouth dry. At the same time, these roasted foods often contain high levels of salt, which adds insult to injury for delicate mucous membranes. Therefore, although nuts are highly nutritious, they cannot be eaten without limit. Pay attention to choosing products with less salt and do not consume more than a small handful per day.
Finally, it should be said that replenishing fluids and vitamins cannot solve everyone's problems, because some people's issues stem from inadequate rest. In this case, the best measure is to rest in a timely manner to allow the body to recover. The skin's moisture will gradually return to normal, and the eyes will also regain their original clarity and brightness.
Nuts and Yogurt