WATER - The ORIGINAL Beauty Fluid

For theeeee longessssst time, I was the WORST culprit of not drinking enough water.  I was a natural born sodasucker...ask my parents.  I had to make conscious effort to cut back on soda (I actually eliminated it completely for a while after several relapses on Diet Coke).  I don't even keep soda in my fridge anymore.  Water is my primary go-to beverage and once I made the switch, I noticed a world of difference.

First the facts:

How much water do you need? 
Every day you lose water through sweating - noticeable and unnoticeable - exhaling, urinating and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you need to replace this water by consuming beverages and foods that contain water. So how much water, or more precisely fluid, do you need?

This isn't an easy question to answer. A healthy adult's daily fluid intake can vary widely. Most people drink fluid to quench thirst, to supply perceived water needs and "out of habit." At least three approaches estimate total fluid (water) needs for healthy, sedentary adults living in a temperate climate.

• Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is 1.5 liters a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your fluid intake, so you if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups), along with your normal diet, you can replace the lost fluids.
• Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" - drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though this approach isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
• Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consume 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. These guidelines are based on national food surveys that assessed people's average fluid intakes. 

You can choose any of these fluid intake approaches to gauge your fluid needs. But your current total fluid intake is probably OK if you drink enough water to quench your thirst, produce a colorless or slightly yellow normal amount of urine, and feel well.

I'm usually peein' clear by 11am...just sayin!

Symptoms of Dehydration:

• Tiredness
• Migraine
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps
• Irregular blood pressure
• Kidney problems
• Dry skin

Dry skin, tiredness, cramps and headaches were tooootally my symptoms.

Now the benefits...on the beautification tip:

Clear skin: Drinking water keeps your skin cleansed and hydrated, encouraging clear, fresh skin. By drinking water you flush out toxins and eliminate the dirt that clogs the pours of your skin, giving you a healthier glow.

Natural weight loss: You may not believe it but drinking water actually helps you to lose weight. A lot of the time when you feel hungry, you are actually thirsty, and when you drink water you feel fuller. This will stop you snacking needlessly. Replacing water with your usual drink such as fizzy or caffeine-based drinks is also good for your body. As well as the health benefits that water provides, it means that you are cutting out sugary junk drinks that are bad for you.

Toning skin: Water helps to keep your skin tight and toned, cleansed and flushed of toxins. Your body naturally fills cells with water to make them firm and tight, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles for a smooth finish. When the cells are filled with water they become bulged and push against your skin from the inside, and this can help to reduce unsightly marks such as cellulite and flabby skin.

Glossy hair: Drinking water hydrates cells, and your hair is no exception. Drink plenty of water to make your hair naturally soft and silky. If you have frizzy or brittle hair, don't bother with expensive products – just drink more water and you will see a difference in no time.

A healthier you: What you put in your body really shows on the outside. Drinking water makes your blood thinner, leading to a faster blood flow and nourishment for your body cells. Lowering your blood pressure will give you a healthier heart and gives you much more energy. With your body feeling cleansed and in excellent working condition you will feel and look great, giving you a natural confidence boost.

It honestly took me a while to get into the habit of drinking water, so I had to get creative by buying fancy bottles and cups to make me waaaant to drink the water.

I seriously can't live without my Cool Gear Freezer Gel Acrylic Cup, I own several and have one on me at all times.  I really like this one because I can freeze it and the gel keeps it cold without needing ice.

Speaking of ice...is it better to drink water COLD or ROOM TEMP?!  There a billion studies that support both sides, but I come from the school of cold water burns more calories because your body has to work harder to warm it up.  That being said, I also agree that drinking room temperature water after meal helps with digestion (think about it, ice cold water is going to solidify the fat you just ate, right?...ew!)

If you reeeally have a problem with remembering to drink enough water or just need to make that transition like I did, this is an amazing products: HydraCoach Interactive Water Bottle

I have personally noticed that increasing my water intake and helped with my weight loss (80lbs down, 45 more to go!), I have also noticed that my skin is much more clear and I have less breakouts (I had AWFUL skin before), and I seem to have less cramping (like those awful calf spasms at night!)

OK, so in summary...water is good mmmkay