Along with the whole apple cider vinegar trend, I think that drinking more water is the next “big thing” in the fitness/health/wellness communities. It’s basically everyone’s number 1 health/beauty tip. You want a flat stomach? Drink more water. You want glowing, clear skin? Drink more water! Now, I completely realize that staying hydrated is extremely important. There is a plethora of reasons why our bodies need water and research to back it up. But! Since I love science, I thought it would be interesting to talk about what happens to our skin cells and our digestive system when we actually stay hydrated.
Our Skin Cells:
Our skin is the largest organ of the body and, just like everything else, it is made up of thousands of cells. Now, I’m sure you are aware that our bodies are primarily water. The average adult human body is 50-65 percent water. This number varies depending on the person’s gender and fitness level, due to the fact that fatty tissue contains more water then lean tissue (1). This is one of the reasons why there are different recommended amounts of water one should consume in a day. However, a good gauge for your hydration level is to look at the color of your urine. I know that this is a bit personal, but it is important. The color that you are aiming for is a pale yellow color. If it’s bright yellow, it means that you are dehydrated. Completely clear urine means that you may be drinking too much water, which can actually be too hard on the kidneys (2). So, what does this mean for our skin cells? The first thing that you need to know is that water reaches other organs in the body first, before it reaches the skin. This means that in order for us to see any benefits, one needs to drink enough water for a long period of time (3). After a while, your cells basically “drink” the water and become “full”. Think of it this way, if your hydrated, your cells look like a grape. But if your dehydrated, your cells look like a raisin. Dehydrated skin also tends to break out more. This happens because these skin cells send signals to the oil glands to produce more oil to compensate for the lack of hydration (4). Once the skin starts to become more hydrated, not only does your complexion become less dull, plump, and smooth, the skin becomes less oily and acne tends to be less aggravated.
Our Digestive System:
Since water hits our organs first, the benefits of consuming more water can be seen/felt a little faster. The main thing that it does is help with bloating, which I’m sure you’ve already heard. But one thing that I have found is that drinking water WHILE eating slows down the digestive process and causes bloating. My advice is to stop drinking water about thirty minutes before eating, not eat during your meal, and then start drinking water thirty minutes after eating. This gives the body time to digest and then the water helps to break it down further. This allows the body to absorb the nutrients from the food whilst keeping everything moving down the digestive tract (5). It also helps to soften the stool and prevents constipation. Not only that, but if you don’t drink enough water, your system has to work harder, which can keep you from having regular bowl movement. This means that toxins continue to build up in the intestinal tract and can cause some serious health issues if things continue to stay in the system.
Sources:
1) "The Benefits of Drinking Water for Your Skin." UW Health, www.uwhealth.org/
madison-plastic-surgery/the-benefits-of-drinking-water-for-your-skin/26334.
Accessed 6 Feb. 2019.
2) Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How Much of Your Body Is Water." ThoughtCo., Dotdash Publishing, 28 Sept. 2018, www.thoughtco.com/ how-much-of-your-body-is-water-609406. Accessed 6 Feb. 2019.
3) "The Importance of Hydration for Body and Skin." Forever Young by Perricone MD,
foreveryoung.perriconemd.com/the-importance-of-hydration-for-body-and-skin- html.
Accessed 4 Feb. 2019.
4) McCarthy, Joy. Joyous Health. Penguin Group, 2014.
5) Picco, Michael F., M.D. "Does Drinking Water during or after a Meal Disturb
Digestion." Mayo Clinic, 3 May 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/
nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/digestion/faq-20058348.
Accessed 4 Feb. 2019.
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