8 Glasses of Water A Day. Really?
Hydrated skin looks more beautiful. | Photo Credit: styleunited.com by Thinkstock
We’ve all been told what the Mayo Clinic touts, “You have to drink 8 glasses of water a day to stay healthy.” Whether or not its true, many of us simply can’t seem to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. It just seems like too much.
But dehydration is bad for the skin. If you want beautiful skin you need to hydrate. So what can you do?
4 Steps to Staying Hydrated
1. Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes you to urinate, which is dehydrating. If you drink alcohol, for every drink you urinate 50-60% more liquid than you consumed. Unfortunately, if you drink extra water to make up for it, which most people don’t anyway, you’ll only be able to retain about 50% of it meaning that you’d need to drink at least 2 glasses of water for every 1 glass of alcohol just to maintain your hydration levels. So, drink in moderation and be aware that you’ll need to work extra to replenish your hydration levels after a drink, especially after a night of drinking. Check out this article for more on the science behind alcohol and dehydration.
2. Sweating
Depending on the intensity of your exercise, and the environmental conditions such as running in hot humid weather or an air-conditioned gym, you will sweat more or less, but you will sweat and you will become dehydrated if you don’t replenish fluids. This article from myfooddiary.com shows you how to calculate how much water you lost exercising by weighing yourself before exercise and then after, assuming the weight loss primarily came from sweating. Basically, for every pound of weight-loss, they recommend you drink 3 glasses of water to replenish your pre-workout hydration level. If you were already dehydrated, you’ll need more, and they caution, exercising dehydrated can be dangerous so they also provide a guide for how much to drink before, during and after your workout. Check it out.
3. Diet
Many foods are high in water content, such as fruits and vegetables, even fish and meat, let alone smoothies and soups. Not all your hydration has to come from drinking pure water. But beyond water, omega-3 fatty acids from oils, fish, nuts, and supplements really help the skin hold in moisture and stay hydrated. So, think about the moisture content of the food you eat and adding healthy oils to your diet.
4. Moisturizing
Keeping you body hydrated is important, and keeping your skin hydrated by protecting against evaporation and damage through moisturization and sunscreen are very important to maintaining radiant, hydrated and healthy skin. Moisturize daily and use sun protection all year, even in winter in cold climates.
Here are a couple more interesting articles on hydration:
When I started getting interested in becoming more aware of my hydration, I started drinking a glass of water (with lemon juice) first thing in the morning when I get up. I also carry a bottle of water around with me so that I can have a sip of water whenever I think about it or feel thirsty. When I eat a snack or meal, I usually drink some water first. In general, I feel better, more energy, and less tired on days when I know I’m hydrating.
What are your tips? Please share in the comments.
If you feel that your skin is dry or you are having trouble staying hydrated you might considering coming in for a skin consultation and hydrating facial. If the problem continues, you might want to visit a health care practitioner for medical advice. The tips in this article do not replace or substitute for medical care and advice from your health care practitioner.
