Hydration - Why it Matters

By Rochelle Weitzner | October 17, 2022

I never fully understood how absolutely essential proper hydration is until I went to one of those crazy detox spas in the middle of the desert and heard a speaker talk about hydration this way: 

Think of the human body as a fish tank and we’re the fish.  If the water in the tank dips to a low level, what happens? Waste builds up in the tank and ultimately, like fish in the tank, we could die in our own waste because we just don’t have enough clean water circulating, removing the waste and enabling us to perform at our peak levels.  Likewise, if the Ph of our tank is not balanced, things start to grow in the tank.  Could these things be analogous to cancers and disease? Maybe? So, it’s probably a really great idea to keep our own personal tanks in balance and full of fresh water at all times.

Likewise, as hormones fluctuate with perimenopause and ultimately when estrogen has left the building, our skin becomes excessively dry…everywhere…because (a) our bodies are producing less moisture (see my hormonal acne blog for my on the science here) and (b) our skin is not able to hold onto hydration without the benefit of estrogen.

Clearly hydration is essential both internally and topically.  Here are 4 tips to help keep your skin healthy and clear and your body well hydrated:

1. Drink water like it’s your job.  I found that I really don’t like to drink water.  It’s just boring to me.  BUT I know I need to so I came up with a few hacks to help me drink anywhere from 64-100 oz per day.  First, I like to drink hot water.  For some reason when the water is hot I feel like it’s not really water.  Also, I have found a water additive calledStur.  Unlike some other water enhancers, Stur is made with Stevia rather than some of those horrible chemical sweeteners.  I squirt a bit into my hot water thermos and I’m good to go all day.  The thermos is 64 oz so at the end of the day (or earlier) when I finish it, I know I’ve had my water requirement for the day and it’s super simple. 
2. In addition to drinking plain water, you can also increase your water intake by eating foods that are high in water content. Cucumbers, tomatoes, and watermelons are all great options. You can also get your hydration fix by consuming soups, stews, and smoothies.
3. If you are anything like me, you probably start your day with coffee. And the bigger and stronger the cup, the better, right? While coffee does have some hydration benefits, it is also a diuretic. This means that it can actually dehydrate you if you drink too much of it. Try to limit yourself to one or two cups per day, and make sure to drink a glass of water for every cup of coffee that you consume.
4. Cleanse, moisturize and moisturize some more as though it is winter year-round. Check out my blog here for 5 tips for healthier winter skin when you’re over 40. 

Related Pages