Self Care Sunday: Drink More Water

Water can solve many of our skin care problems, so why aren’t we drinking enough of it? Most doctors recommend 8-10 cups of water each day. I’m lucky if I can finish two 16.9 fl oz. bottles. What gives? Drinking H2O is a necessary part of our survival. It protects our internal organs, keeps our joints lubricated, and detoxifies the body. We can’t sweat or dispose of waste through urination or bowel movements without water. It’s essential.

Surprisingly, a lot of us are walking around dehydrated and don’t know it. We think that just because we are drinking something throughout the day, that means we’re covered. But drinking coffee, tea, sodas, or juices don’t offer the body the same hydration benefits as water. Proper hydration is vital to maintaining your skin’s health. Having dehydrated skin can lead to breakouts, dry patches, and even excessive oiliness—all things we’d like to avoid. So how do you stay hydrated? The easy answer is to just drink at least 2.5 liters of water each day. However, that’s way easier said than done. Read below for helpful hacks and tips.

If you “don’t like the taste of water”…

Try adding fruit to give a natural flavor. Lemon and cucumber in water is a natural way to help with digestion. Other fruits like melon, strawberries, raspberries—as well as herbs like mint and thyme—provide antioxidant properties.

If you really need to detox…

Chlorophyll water is the wave. If you didn’t already know, chlorophyll is a dark green pigment found in plants that helps with photosynthesis. Because it is rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K, more people are starting to add chlorophyll to their water (or take as a supplement in capsule form). You can get chlorophyll in the form of liquid drops or powder and follow the directions on the label to make sure you’re adding the right amount to your water.

Chlorophyll is especially beneficial if you’re looking to detox as it helps cleanse the liver as well as the digestive tract. In addition to cleaning your system internally, chlorophyll helps to give your skin a healthy glow as well!

If you just really need a water hack…

You can mark your water bottle by time intervals to help pace your water intake throughout the day. Keep your bottle close by and sip, sip, sip! There are also smart bottles on the market that come with apps to help track your daily water intake.

Did you know there is one other way you can get more water without actually drinking anything? It’s in your fruits and vegetables. So be sure you’re getting the healthy amount of fresh fruits and veggies daily.

How do you drink your water?

Image Credit: Neelam Johal Gill by Seb Winter via Miles to Go