The human body is made up of nearly 70% water. Think about that—that’s more than half of everything that makes up our entire body. It’s 2020, and more and more “quick fixes” keep popping up. Hungover? Get an IV. Skin problems? Get a facial or an array of new skincare products. Joints and muscles tight and tired? Get a massage. Want to slim down? Go on a detox or juice cleanse. All of these solutions require time and money, and though they may work, we all forget about the one thing that can give us all of those benefits and more, and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Drinking water, and plenty of it, is so important to overall health. But staying hydrated doesn’t just have health benefits—it has plenty of beauty, skin, and anti-aging ones, too.
Below I’ve broken down all the reasons you should be drinking water, how much water you should be drinking daily, and all the ways you can add some flavor to it naturally to make it easier to get that hydration in.
Why you should be drinking water:
- It helps fight fatigue. Because of the fact that two-thirds of our bodies are made up of water, it only makes sense that staying hydrated keeps us energized. Dehydration can cause confusion, headaches, joint pain, and muscle fatigue.
- It’s a natural detoxer. One major benefit of drinking plenty of water is the fact that it helps our bodies flush out toxins naturally. Think about it: every time you pee, your body is essentially flushing itself out of potentially harmful toxins. The body also naturally detoxes through sweating. Water aides in bringing nutrients to our cells, which need to be repaired often and optimally for maximum benefits. Staying hydrated and flushing out our bodies can also help reduce water retention—the root cause of bloat and puffiness—which happens when we’re dehydrated because our bodies are trying to protect us.
- Helps improve complexion. Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and staying hydrated not only helps us detoxify, it also increases blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow creates a more even skin tone, which ultimately gives us that glowing, youthful complexion. Drinking plenty of h2O can also help clear up acne by flushing out toxins, helping to unclog pores, and reducing pore size.
- Real anti-aging benefits. Get this: in your 20’s, your skin cell turnover decreases as much as 28%—but that’s not all. In your 20’s, collagen production also slows down. Cell turnover and collagen are the keys to keeping skin tight, fine lines and wrinkles at bay, and skin youthful. With this knowledge, it should come as no surprise that one of the main ingredients found in skincare products that can help boost and stimulate collagen production and fight fine lines and wrinkles is hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the human body. And guess what hyaluronic acid is essentially? Yup, you guessed it—water. When your skin is dehydrated, you’re more likely to see fine lines and wrinkles, and dermatologists say that when this happens, as soon as skin is hydrated again, those fine lines and wrinkles (as long as they’re not deep) will suddenly disappear (especially in younger people). Drinking water can help slow down the aging process because it helps keep the skin plump and tight by keeping skin moisturized. When skin is hydrated, you’re less likely to see wrinkles because of the improved elasticity. Tight skin = no sagging = decreased signs of aging.
How much water should you be drinking a day?
It’s believed that everyone should be drinking at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day, which equals about a half gallon. However, I always drink a gallon of water throughout the day, and I personally think it works really, really well. I feel so much better, and as someone who has dry skin, it helps my skin stay as moisturized as it possibly can naturally. I’ve also noticed that it makes a major difference in muscle achiness, particularly in my knees and legs, which is helpful for me considering how much my body already suffers from my neck injury. I also like to stay extra hydrated on the nights I drink alcohol because alcohol can really dehydrate the body and cause that achy feeling the following day. I fight hangovers with water.
The best way to make sure you’re drinking enough water daily is by using a reusable water bottle. (Preferably one that’s dishwasher safe and you can have for a lifetime.) Keeping a water bottle with you at all times allows you to sip slowly throughout the day (guzzling a bottle of water all at once won’t help with hydration), and also helps keep track of the amount you drink better. We’re all busy, and who really has the time to remember whether or not they’ve had six or seven glasses of water already? Not me.
I have a 28 ounce water bottle, and drinking four, full bottles equates to a gallon. Recently I’ve started drinking around five, but drinking four is a really good place to start.
All the ways you can drink water:
Some people complain about the fact that they hate the taste of plain water, but that doesn’t have to stop you from drinking it. Here are some tasty, creative ways to add some flavor to your water:
- Add a slice of lemon. Some people like to squeeze a slice of lemon into the water to really get it in there, while others prefer to just plop it into the glass and let it do its magic. If you don’t have fresh lemon available, try lemon juice instead; but less is more with this—a little bit goes a long way!
- Add a lemon and an orange slice. This is my favorite way to add flavor to water. I actually got this idea from a hotel I stayed at years ago from the water they were serving in the lobby. I don’t squeeze the lemon or orange into my glass, but instead plop them both in and swirl them around with a straw to distribute the flavor throughout. This is seriously underrated—try it, you won’t be disappointed.
- Add a few slices of fresh cucumber. Just add a few slices of fresh cucumber, plop them in your glass, and you’re good to go! This is great for a hot summer day, it’s so refreshing.
- Try rose water. This requires more work, and is something I personally have yet to try, but I’ve heard people rave about it. Rose water can be made with dried rose petals and boiled hot water. You then combine the two, and allow the combination to simmer on a stovetop for about 20-30 minutes. Like I said, I have yet to try this, so definitely make sure you Google the directions before you begin. It does seems like a fairly easy process, though (I mean, why else would so many people be doing it?), and roses have a ton of beauty benefits naturally. If I had to guess, I’d say that combining the power of roses with the power of water makes you pretty unstoppable, and something your skin and body will thank you for later.
Related: The Beauty Benefits of Roses
