How good hydration can save you from the flu and winter illnesses?

To begin, let's revisit an essential point: the impact of cold on the human body! What exactly happens?

First, in cold weather, our proximity to others increases. We warm up in homes, bars, restaurants, in short, confined spaces where the air is not renewed enough. Viruses of winter illnesses (colds, tonsillitis, bronchitis, flu, etc.) are actually present all year round in our environment, but in winter, due to our proximity and our increased physical contact in enclosed spaces, we offer viruses a great opportunity to spread between our different organisms.

This observation wouldn't matter if our protective barriers remained intact during the winter. But there's a catch! The cold reduces our ability to resist infection. Cold air dries out and dehydrates the mucous membranes that line our respiratory system. Furthermore, our trachea and bronchi are made up of vibrating cilia, whose main function is to eliminate waste and foreign bodies. By drying out the mucous membranes, the cold also reduces the effectiveness of these cilia. The cold therefore has a physical effect on the barriers of our respiratory system, making it much easier for viruses to enter our bodies.

Finally, cold also has a metabolic effect on our bodies. It lowers our body temperature, which slows the development of our cells, in this case our immune cells, and ultimately, slows our immune response to infectious agents.

But what are the real solutions to avoid getting sick during the winter?

As you probably know, barrier gestures, a balanced diet, and restful sleep are your best allies against winter. Quality sleep, just like our brain, helps create memories for our adaptive immune system. This system allows us to develop adapted immune responses depending on the infectious agent and to remember how to react to this infectious agent if our body is confronted with it again. Sleep is essential to maintain the effectiveness of our immune cells day after day.

When it comes to nutrition, you probably already know that eating a balanced diet is necessary to provide our body with all the components it needs to develop and protect itself.

Now, let's talk about a parameter that is often overlooked in our daily winter routines (especially when it's cold and all we dream of is hot chocolate): HYDRATION .

Yet, in winter, despite the drop in temperatures, our water loss is not much lower than in summer. Every day, regardless of the season, we lose 2 liters of water daily. Moreover, in winter, enclosed spaces are often very heated, which further increases our water loss, but the effect felt by our bodies is less than when exposed to the sun or high temperatures.

Hydration also helps prevent the respiratory mucous membranes from drying out, better fluidifies bronchial mucus and ultimately keeps the barriers of our respiratory system effective.

Poor hydration , which results from an intake of less than 1.5 liters of water per day, leads us to a state of dehydration. The first symptom of dehydration is the feeling of thirst. Ideally, it is advisable not to wait until you feel thirsty, to prevent this state of mild hydration. Then, the second very visible sign is the color of the urine: if it is dark, it means that you need to drink more. The recommended amount of water per day is 1.5 / 2 liters of water. The rest of the symptoms of dehydration should not be taken lightly either: dry mouth and skin , headaches, rapid heart rate, nausea and vomiting.

The long-term effects of good hydration lead to better development of physical and mental performance.

Hydration is also essential to maintain good cellular and blood osmolarity, that is to say, good pressure between our cells and our different organic fluids. Good osmolarity guarantees a good exchange of the elements necessary for the proper functioning of our cells, and therefore of our organs, our muscles (enzymes, proteins, minerals, etc.). This will also be important in good cellular development in order to have a good immune response. Be careful! Similarly, drinking too much is not good either because it will also disrupt cellular osmolarity, which can then lead to too low sodium levels in the blood, and therefore cause metabolic and neurological problems. Fortunately for us, these effects occur beyond a consumption of 4.5/5 liters of water per day.

Now that we have the keys to never getting sick again, let's see how we can feel even better during this harsh season!

Boost your metabolism? How?

You have two options: Hydration or food supplements.

Hydration is essential for feeling good. For example, by setting yourself a ten-day goal of drinking 1.5 liters of water per day, you will directly feel the beneficial effects of hydration on your body. Moreover, the best way is to have a water bottle to track your daily consumption. Regarding dietary supplements, they help to sustainably strengthen the immune system by providing nutrients essential for its proper development, such as vitamins B, C and D, minerals (zinc, magnesium, iron, etc.) as well as probiotics (which help stimulate the immune response).

The products offered by Hydratis provide a real solution for optimal hydration. Each product contains the minerals and trace elements necessary for obtaining water rich in nutrients. Furthermore, to boost metabolism during these harsh periods, Hydratis and Natura Force have joined forces to offer a specific range for winter. The dietary supplements offered are natural and certified organic. These two solutions combined will ensure you maintain a good energy balance throughout these long winter days. On that note, happy hydration to all!