While the weather outside might make you want to reach for a warm cup of coffee or cocoa, flu season is a particularly important time to stay fully hydrated. We’ve outlined some key reasons why hydrating while sick is so important.
Disease Prevention
With water making up 60 percent of our body weight. University Health News shares, “Water acts as a building block and a transport material for nutrients and waste.” Staying hydrated can prevent diseases and a variety of health conditions.
Health Benefits
Improving your overall health can go a long way preventing illnesses. That’s why we love water’s ability to help digestion and the absorption of nutrients to benefit overall health. According to Michigan State University, “Staying properly hydrated helps the kidneys do their job of balancing electrolytes and filtering waste from the body.” Drinking water can also help illness by lessening congestion and allowing mucus to be coughed out of the body. It’s important to replace this infected mucus though, as these mucosal linings are what help prevent infection in the first place!
Don’t Dehydrate
Did you know that the most common reason for flu or virus infection patients getting admitted to the hospital is due to dehydration? According to David B. Banach, head of infection prevention and a hospital epidemiologist at the University of Connecticut. He states, “When people are sick with the flu, they lose fluids which can contribute to dehydration.”
Source: Absopure
