In cold weather, the body has many physiological changes such as blood vessels contracting, increased urine excretion, and a noticeable decrease in thirst. These factors cause the kidneys to work harder to maintain the water-electrolysis balance.
Besides drinking enough water, staying away from some unsuitable drinks in the cold season also plays an important role in helping to protect kidney health.
First, alcohol is a group of drinks that should not be used in cold weather if you want healthy kidneys. Alcohol has a strong diuretic effect, causing the body to dehydrate faster even when the weather is not hot.
When dehydrated, blood flow to the kidneys decreases, increasing the risk of kidney function damage and kidney stones formation. Alcohol and beer also increase blood pressure and cause metabolic disorders, indirectly adversely affecting the kidneys, especially in middle-aged people and people with underlying diseases.
Next are carbonated soft drinks and sugary drinks. These types of water do not help replenish water effectively but also increase the burden of filtration on the kidneys. High sugar levels cause the kidneys to work harder to detoxify, which can prolong kidney function and increase the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes - the leading cause of chronic kidney failure.
Thick coffee and beverages high in caffeine are also not recommended in cold weather. Caffeine has the effect of stimulating nerves and diuretic, easily causing silent dehydration. When drinking too much coffee in winter, the kidneys must constantly adjust the amount of water and electrolytes, thereby easily overloading, especially for people who are stressed at work or drink less filtered water.
Cold water and ice water are also not suitable when it's cold. Drinking water that is too cold can cause sudden vasoconstriction, affecting blood circulation and reducing the blood filtration efficiency of the kidneys.
This habit can also easily cause sore throats, colds, indirectly weakening the body and affecting kidney function.
