Colds are one of the most common illnesses, and there has been controversy about whether you should drink plenty of water when you have a cold. Some people believe that drinking more water can increase blood volume and dilute the concentration of viruses or bacteria, thus helping the body to go faster**. However, the interpretation of the truth shows that drinking a lot of water does not lead to a cold, but may lead to dehydration. This article will take a look at the correct way to drink water when you have a cold and emphasize the importance of getting the right amount of electrolytes.
When you have a cold, your body fights the virus with a fever, a process that causes a lot of water loss in the body and also takes away electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. At this time, if you only supplement a large amount of plain water, it will dilute the electrolyte elements such as sodium and potassium in the body. When the concentration of sodium in the body drops too much, people will experience dizziness and fatigue. At this time, the brain automatically sends signals to expel excess water from the body through urine, sweat, etc., to meet the needs of the body's electrolyte concentration balance.
Therefore, you can't just drink a lot of water for a cold, and you need to drink enough electrolytes at the same time to help relieve cold symptoms. So, how do you drink water properly?
First of all, we should determine the amount of water to drink based on individual circumstances. Generally speaking, adults need to consume about 2000-2500 ml of water per day, and during a cold, the body loses more water due to fever and sweating, so it is necessary to increase the water intake appropriately. However, drinking too much water can lead to dehydration of the body, affecting the normal functioning of the body. Therefore, we should judge whether we need to increase the water intake according to our own situation.
Secondly, we should pay attention to electrolyte supplementation. When you catch a cold, in addition to the loss of water, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium in the body also decrease. Therefore, while drinking water, we can choose some drinks or foods with electrolytes to replenish. For example, salt water, coconut water, sports drinks, etc. are rich in electrolytes, which can help maintain the balance of electrolytes in the body. In addition, some fruits and vegetables are also rich in electrolytes, such as bananas, oranges, watermelon, cucumbers, etc., which can increase the intake of these foods appropriately.
Finally, we should also take care to maintain a proper temperature. When you have a cold, your body is in a state of fever, and if you drink too cold water, it may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause discomfort to worsen. Therefore, we can choose warm or lukewarm water to drink to reduce the irritation on the body.
To sum up, you need to be cautious when drinking water when you have a cold, and the right amount of electrolytes is the key. We should determine the amount of water we drink according to our own situation, pay attention to the electrolyte content, and maintain an appropriate temperature. Only by drinking water correctly can you help relieve cold symptoms and promote the body's **.