Water
Your Most Important Cosmetic
By Shelley Burns, ND
Originally published in ASCP's Skin Deep, June/July 2006. Copyright 2006. Associated Skin Care Professionals. All rights reserved.
Creams, nutritional supplements, treatments, lotions, and potions. We are always looking for the next miracle product to keep skin looking healthy and young. However, there is one essential, inexpensive, and often overlooked nutrient right at your fingertips: water.
Just as a car cannot function without oil, our bodies cannot function without water. After oxygen, H2O is the most important component of the body, responsible for 65-70 percent of its composition. And of this, 80 percent is dedicated to the skin.
Water is the medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, and oxygen through the blood and lymphatic systems, and it also helps form the matrix of the skin. Devoid of water, the skin becomes dehydrated, resulting in a dry, dull tone.
It's likely that the moment a person feels thirsty, mild dehydration has already set in. To keep the complexion looking smooth and blemish-free, it is important to begin drinking water upon waking and continue drinking it throughout the day at one- to two-hour intervals. At least six 8 oz. glasses of water should be consumed daily and more if you are exercising, perspiring, and/or in hot weather. Ideally, intake should be between ten and twelve 8 oz. glasses of water a day.
One note: It is not recommended one increase water intake all at once, as the kidneys and digestive system need time to efficiently process the additional water. Counsel clients to begin gradually by adding one 8 oz. glass every day or every second day. Also, thirst pangs are often misinterpreted as hunger pangs. If you feel hungry, try having a glass of water first.
What counts toward your daily water intake? Just the basics: water and herbal tea. On the other hand, caffeinated beverages, alcoholic drinks, and soda are not efficient hydrators. In fact, caffeine and alcohol are diuretics that can contribute to dehydration. Consequently, for every cup of coffee you drink, you need to add two glasses of water to your daily regimen to prevent dehydration.
Not only is water important for skin health, it can also play a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water a day can decrease the risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and potentially even breast cancer.
Advise your clients to give their skin the antiaging foundation necessary: hydration from the inside out.
Shelley Burns, a doctor of naturopathic medicine, completed studies at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and has certification in Complementary and Integrative Medicine from Harvard University. She can be reached at the Scienta Health Centre at shelley.burns@scientahealth.com or 905-270-8318.
Creams, nutritional supplements, treatments, lotions, and potions. We are always looking for the next miracle product to keep skin looking healthy and young. However, there is one essential, inexpensive, and often overlooked nutrient right at your fingertips: water.
Just as a car cannot function without oil, our bodies cannot function without water. After oxygen, H2O is the most important component of the body, responsible for 65-70 percent of its composition. And of this, 80 percent is dedicated to the skin.
Water is the medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, and oxygen through the blood and lymphatic systems, and it also helps form the matrix of the skin. Devoid of water, the skin becomes dehydrated, resulting in a dry, dull tone.
It's likely that the moment a person feels thirsty, mild dehydration has already set in. To keep the complexion looking smooth and blemish-free, it is important to begin drinking water upon waking and continue drinking it throughout the day at one- to two-hour intervals. At least six 8 oz. glasses of water should be consumed daily and more if you are exercising, perspiring, and/or in hot weather. Ideally, intake should be between ten and twelve 8 oz. glasses of water a day.
One note: It is not recommended one increase water intake all at once, as the kidneys and digestive system need time to efficiently process the additional water. Counsel clients to begin gradually by adding one 8 oz. glass every day or every second day. Also, thirst pangs are often misinterpreted as hunger pangs. If you feel hungry, try having a glass of water first.
What counts toward your daily water intake? Just the basics: water and herbal tea. On the other hand, caffeinated beverages, alcoholic drinks, and soda are not efficient hydrators. In fact, caffeine and alcohol are diuretics that can contribute to dehydration. Consequently, for every cup of coffee you drink, you need to add two glasses of water to your daily regimen to prevent dehydration.
Not only is water important for skin health, it can also play a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water a day can decrease the risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and potentially even breast cancer.
Advise your clients to give their skin the antiaging foundation necessary: hydration from the inside out.
Shelley Burns, a doctor of naturopathic medicine, completed studies at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and has certification in Complementary and Integrative Medicine from Harvard University. She can be reached at the Scienta Health Centre at shelley.burns@scientahealth.com or 905-270-8318.
