Don’t drink water because you don’t feel thirsty? This is playing with your kidneys in winter:

News India Live, Digital Desk: As soon as the cold season starts, one thing definitely happens to all of us, our thirst decreases. Now when we do not feel thirsty, our hand does not go towards the water bottle. We keep sipping tea and coffee and think, “Come on, the liquid is going into the body.”

But wait! Nephrologists (kidney doctors) are warning that our carelessness can put our kidneys in trouble.

After all, why does the danger increase in winter?
The matter is very simple. Our kidney is a kind of ‘filter’. Its job is to remove dirt from the body. And for this cleaning campaign it is in dire need of water, whether the season is winter or summer.
When we drink less water in winter, toxins start accumulating inside the body.
Doctors say that during this season, the chances of formation of kidney stones are highest because the urine becomes thick and crystals start forming.

Don’t just wait until you feel thirsty
We think, “We will drink when we feel thirsty.” But science says that in cold our body’s “thirst mechanism” becomes a little sluggish. That means the body needs water, but you don’t feel it.

Side effects of drinking less water:

1. Kidney Stone: This can be the most painful outcome.
2. Risk of UTI: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is very common in winter because we do not clean the bladder by drinking enough water.
3. Dry skin and fatigue: Due to lack of water, the skin becomes dry and without working, one feels tired.

So what to do now? (simple solution)

• Drink lukewarm water: If you don’t feel like drinking cold water, then make the water lukewarm. It will be good for the throat as well as the kidneys.
• Set alarm: Set a reminder in your mobile or always keep a bottle nearby. Set a target to drink only 8-10 glasses a day.
• Other things to eat: Apart from water, maintain hydration by drinking juicy fruits, soups or coconut water, but do not depend too much on tea and coffee (they increase dehydration).

Remember, the cold is outside, not inside your body. Your kidney has to work 24 hours, so keep giving it ‘fuel’ i.e. water. Change a small habit and stay healthy!