Consuming snow is tempting. When skiing, we exert ourselves, we sweat and we get dehydrated. Surrounded by all that solid water, sometimes it’s hard to resist. So, is it safe to drink snow?
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[EN VIDÉO] Why does salt melt snow? When winter arrives, it is not uncommon for the roads to freeze over. In order to prevent accidents, the main roads are often covered with salt, which has the effect of melting the snow. Unisciel and the University of Lille 1 explain to us, during this episode of Kézako, what are the chemical processes that come into play in this situation.
When skiing, the gourd may be empty. And if you are extremely thirsty, why not take snow ? After all, this is phased water solid. However, its phase change has altered some of its chemical properties: consuming it can have harmful consequences on the body.human organism. Of course, tasting a few flakes once has never been a public health problem, but it should be avoided on a regular basis.
When’water changes phase and becomes snow, two main parameters are modified: the temperature of the fluid and the quantity of minerals. Indeed, crunching snow, the temperature of which is 0 ° C, can cause a thermal shock. The body loses heat (rather to be avoided in the mountains) and diarrhea acute can occur. It is therefore better to melt the snow.
Snow has no taste
In addition, the snow is demineralized. Its filtering is natural, and it is less thirst-quenching without minerals. This is not bad in itself, but drinking it can lead humans to want to consume more or other even less drinkable sources. The question of the effect of minerals in water on human health is the subject of numerous studies. According to theWHO, the consumption ofDemineralized Water changes the homeostasis of the organism. This controls the balance of an environment, which is reflected in our body by maintaining body temperature, the constancy of debit blood, etc. Studies have shown that in animals, deionized water causes diuresis or can dilute electrolytes in the intestine and damage the function ofvital organs.
In Mountain, climbers have had serious health problems after consuming only slush during their expedition. In addition, edema to brain or metabolic acidosis have been observed in children whose drinks were only made with demineralized water. The lack of minerals can also obviously be very dangerous in the long term. L’pure water brings a significant amount of calcium and of magnesium, essential for our body. Of course, water is not the only vector of supply of these minerals, but the majority of diets do not cover a possible deficiency.
Drinking snow, once melted, from time to time, should not have noticeable effects on the body. However, regular consumption should be avoided and, without any other choice, salting the water a little or mixing it with a soup for example, will temporarily fill the deficiency.
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