We hear it all the time, right? Drink more water. It's good for you. It's good for your skin. But no one ever tells us WHY.
The average adult body is made up of 55-65% water, and 2/3 of that is contained within our cells.
As we get dehydrated, the water is depleted from the cells, making us look tired, dry, itchy, sometimes increasing irritation in the skin, and increasing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The skin is our largest organ, but our body recognizes that the internal organs need the water first, so if you're even slightly dehydrated, your internal organs are going to get the water first, and your skin will get it last.
Our bodies are always seeking the proper equilibrium. If your skin is dehydrated, it can start to overproduce oil to "help" balance the skin as well.
The average woman needs 2.7 liters of water per day. The average man needs 3.7 liters. (Mayoclinic.org)
If you're now shaking your head at me and thinking "giiiiirl you're crazy, I currently drink 1-2 bottles of water a day...HOW am I ever going to drink that much water?" I've got you. First off, note that any fruit or vegetable you eat has water in it, and that counts towards your daily intake. I personally aim for half my body weight in ounces of water, and rely on fruits and veggies to make up the rest.
Tips to get enough water:
1. keep a water bottle with you at all times. When it's empty, fill it up.
2. If you don't like plain water, try infusing yours with some cucumber slices, strawberries and mint, or another fruit combination. (LOVE pinterest for this. Just look up fruit infused water)
3. How do I keep track of my water consumption daily? I keep a strip of masking tape on my water bottle every day. I mark down how many times I fill my bottle.
4. Yes, this seems like a lot of water to some of you. I get it. It doesn't mean you need to start drinking that amount overnight. Start with one more cup a day per week. If you only drink 2 cups a day right now, I challenge you to drink 3 cups a day this week. Then next week, aim for 4 cups per day, etc until you reach the amount your body needs.
Happy Chugging!