3. Water
Dehydration
Up to age 20, probably 10 to 15% of all people are dehydrated. By age 70, that rises to 99%. If the skin is nice and loose and smooth, then we are hydrated. If it becomes creasy and shriveled, it means dehydration. Crow's feet and a turkey neck are signs of dehydration.
Research
A 2007 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that drinking 9.5 cups of water every day for four weeks altered skin density and thickness.
A second study from the University of Missouri-Columbia showed that drinking two cups of water a day increased blood flow to the skin.
Researchers found that drinking enough water has a significant impact in skin health. Without adequate water intake the skin appears duller, wrinkles and pores are more prominent, the skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity, and is more likely to crack and have irritations or blemishes.
How much?
You should drink as much water as your body needs, and the need is determined by the color of the urine: If it’s light it means the body is sufficiently hydrated. If it becomes gradually yellow or orange, the body is becoming severely dehydrated.
Benefits
Hydrates skin cells: Drinking a lot of water will hydrate your skin cells preventing the skin from getting dry and flaky.
Flushes out toxins: Drinking enough water makes it easier for your body to flush out internal toxins, as well as toxins on the surface of the skin. This helps reduce pimples, marks and acne.
Softens the skin: Staying well hydrated is an excellent way to make your skin softer to the touch without having to rely on oils and creams.
Reduces puffiness: When your body is hydrated it doesn’t need to retain and store water. As a result, your face and whole body will look less puffy because you’re shedding water weight.
Glowing skin: The blood is composed of two core components: plasma (55%) and blood corpuscles (45%). Blood plasma is made up of 90-92% water. When your blood circulation is optimal, the results can be seen on your skin as well.
pH Balance: Our bodies are pH-enzyme systems – this means that there needs to be a balance of acidity and alkalinity inside the cells. We need to hydrate and have enough salt in our diets to get rid of the excess acid content inside the cells.
Slows the aging process: Staying well hydrated can help maintain your skin’s elasticity and combat the appearance of those dreaded wrinkles.
Fights oil and acne: Dehydrated skin sends signals to the glands to produce more oil as a defense mechanism of sorts. By keeping skin well hydrated, it becomes less oily and acne tends to be less aggravated.
