Hydrate Your Body, Hydrate Your Skin

Newsletter, Vol. 11 – September 2002

How was your summer? Although we had a very warm summer and a lack of rain again this year, we had some relief from the dryness with a few rainy days towards the end of August and the beginning of September. Unfortunately, the weather affects our skin as well. In this issue, we are going to talk about water!

 

Dehydration

Are you among the millions of people who suffer from chronic dehydration; a common problem in a world fueled by caffeine and processed foods? We all know that good hydration habits help rid your body of toxins, but it doesn’t stop there! Getting your recommended eight to ten glasses of plain, filtered water a day can benefit you in other ways as well:

• Counteract daytime fatigue
• Keep hunger pangs under control (a sense of hunger is often a misinterpretation of thirst)
• Possibly decrease the risk of some cancers, such as bladder cancer
• Maintain your metabolism at a healthy rate
• Help to keep your mind focused and on track

By the time you start feeling thirsty, you’re already on the way to dehydration. Get back up to speed faster by adding a small splash of fruit juice to your water – the sugars can help your body re-hydrate more quickly. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, which are high in water content, is another great way of keeping yourself in balance.

When you sweat from exercise, playing sports and staying outdoors on a hot day for a long time, it’s better to drink water with some electrolyte content. Sports drinks contain both sodium and potassium, two important types of electrolytes that you body needs. When the body sweats, the sweat excretes salts from the blood. Therefore you need to replace both plain water and electrolytes when you are dehydrated.

Many people think that when they have cramps in their legs, feet and toes it is because their bodies got too cold. This is wrong; the more common cause is dehydration. Have you ever experienced leg cramps when you were sleeping after you had too much alcohol to drink?

How can you tell if your skin is dehydrated?
Moisture plays a vital role in the skin, helping to maintain its protective barrier and keeps it looking firm. To see if your skin is dehydrated, simply ‘pinch’ a portion of skin on your face. As you gently squeeze, see if you see fine lines. If you do… open that bottle of water and start drinking!

Featured in Newsletter #100’s ‘Best Of’