The Pithy Myth of Drinking a Ton of Water

Is the fountain of youth found in your own water bottle? Maybe. But maybe not entirely. Maybe you really are what you eat!

There are many important reasons to drink copious amounts of water every day. It helps your brain function, maintains consistent energy levels, regulates your body temperature, supports efficient digestion, and ultimately keeps your body healthy. But human beings aren’t necessarily like houseplants. Our skin doesn’t become instantly nourished when we consume a lot of water. In fact, when you drink water, it doesn’t go straight to your skin. It first travels through your intestines, gets absorbed into your bloodstream, and is filtered by your kidneys. Its final task is to hydrate your cells. When it comes to deeply moisturizing your skin, water isn’t really all that efficient at moisturizing your skin. Whether it’s dry, oily, or a combination, your skin type is largely determined by your genetics.

Your natural moisture level tends to fluctuate depending on what your skin’s protective lipid barrier is exposed to. This lipid layer helps keep moisture in and germs and irritants out. If the irritants get past the layer, that’s when dry skin can become red and itchy. Minimizing your exposure to harsh elements like low humidity, strong winds, dry heat, high altitude, prolonged and intense sun exposure, alcohol, moisture-stripping soaps, and hot baths can prevent the loss of your natural oils.

Going back to your diet again: choosing foods rich in the essential fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed, and olive oil can help your skin cells stay hydrated and well nourished. A study by the Institute of Experimental Dermatology in Germany revealed that women who took flaxseed or borage oil supplements for 12 weeks experienced a significant increase in skin moisture and a reduction in roughness. A healthy diet with three to five servings a week of omega fatty acids will do wonders for most everyone. But if you suffer from extremely dry skin or eczema, try flaxseed, evening primrose, or borage oil supplements. All three oils are awesome sources of alpha and gamma-linolenic fatty acids.

Make no mistake, you want to stay hydrated—but the foods and supplements are the real game changers when it comes to your epidermis!

When it comes to first impressions, your skin tells other people a lot about you. As your largest organ, it’s a direct reflection of your overall level of vitality and health. I think the REAL test of a person’s skin health is when you see him or her with no camera makeup and no fancy Instagram filters or tricky lighting angles. Unfortunately, we live in a quick-fix culture that values illusion over real, authentic, natural beauty. But you want the real thing, right? So, baby, blow off the Botox, forget the face-lift, and let nature nurture your skin the old-school way like a classic Hollywood diva from the ’20s. Armed with the awesome information of good nutrition, we’ll have your skin glowing like newborn-baby butt cheeks in no time!

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