Nourish your Body - Hydration

Has anyone else noticed that one of the simplest things we can do for our skin, health and overall well being seems to be one of the most challenging thingsto get in the habit of? What am I talking about?  I am talking about keeping our body’s hydrated. ​

Hydration!  Maybe not surprisingly your overall hydration level will affect your energy levels, skin, hair, digestion, circulation and your body’s ability to lose fat.  The human body is actually primarily made up of liquid and because of this we can actually only survive for a few days without water, where we could potentially live for weeks without food, that is how important it is to living an optimal life.  

When we start getting serious about getting and staying hydrated most of us make the first step of finding the perfect portable water bottle so we can be sure to keep sipping through the day, but rarely do we stop and look at the foods that we are eating.   Yes, drinking water through your day is an extremely important step in staying hydrated, but so is what we eat.

What we eat will dictate whether or not your body will optimally utilize the liquids you take in or end up using them to process maybe less optimal food choices.  When we choose whole, live and natural foods (think anything in its purest form – vegetables, fruits, legumes, etc) we actually help our body top itself up with liquids.  These foods not only provide us with water, fiber, vitamins and minerals, but they are also sources of electrolytes.

In their most basic form electrolytes (sodium and potassium) are really just salts, salts which dictate how much water is pulled in and out of our cells in order to keep our body happy and functioning.  Without a balance of electrolytes, no matter how much water you consume, you will still remain dehydrated at a cellular level which means you will feel thirsty, have dry skin and hair and you might even start feeling bloated. 

What we eat actually makes up about 20% of our overall intake of water through out the day. So let’s get down into it, here are some foods to add or remove from your diet to help you become optimally hydrated and feed and nourish your body.​

Foods that dehydrate:
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1. Alcohol – this one probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Alcohol is high in sugar and is a diuretic which means you will be urinating much more frequently than normal riding your body of much needed water. 
2. Coffee – like alcohol coffee is a diuretic which means it will encourage your body to let go of more liquid than it normally would on its own.  That being said yes, coffee can lead to dehydration but if you are a coffee lover just be sure to consume two glasses of water after every cup of coffee.
3. Foods high in sodium – although sodium is a much-needed electrolyte, and as an electrolyte its responsibility is to pull water outside of your cells.   The issues arise when you have too much sodium as it will begin to pull out too much water from your cells in order to dilute sodium levels meaning your cells are now depleted of much needed H20.
4. Foods and Beverages high in Sugar – these foods and drinks create a pretty acidic environment, seeing how your body likes to remain on the alkaline side of the pH scale your organs will kick into overdrive to detoxify any extra sugar that couldn’t be metabolized, which means siphon water from your cells and leaving your dedehydrated.

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Foods to keep you hydrated:

1.Cucumbers – these guys are topping the list not only because they are primarily made of water but also because they are loaded with vitamin C.  So not only are you getting hydrated but these delicious vegetables are supporting your immune system and assisting in reducing swelling.

2.Melons – like cucumbers melons are about 90% water, plus they provide you with vitamin A providing you with a good dose of antioxidants which will help protect you from the harmful affects of free radicals.

3.Bell peppers – of the three or four colours out there your biggest bang for your buck are red, orange and yellow, sure the green ones are pretty okay but when it comes to nutrients they are the lowest in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and folic acid.

4.Fruits – rich in fiber, vitamins and water fruits are a great addition to any diet.  Although fruits do contain natural sugars the fiber and water present helps dilute the impact to your blood sugar levels, plus it will help you feeling full longer and will assist you in forming healthy bowel movements.

5.Greens – in addition to fiber and water greens are a great sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene which both assist in nourishing your skin and your immune system.

The major take away here is that whole natural foods not only contribute to an internal bodily pH that is alkaline and optimize your hydration levels but they also provide your body with much needed nutrients and vitamins to feel and look its best.  So enjoy a glass of good wine or your morning cup of coffee just try to balance the rest of your days and weeks with healthy, nutrient rich, fruits and vegetables.

Try having these additionally items to your daily routines and notices that dry winter skin disappear in no time. ​