Our skin is one of our most precious organs and no wonder: it’s responsible for so many functions that literally keep us intact and functioning. It’s also susceptible to so many factors, both internal and external, which are potentially harmful.
Not only does our skin work as a barrier, protecting against water loss as well as physical and chemical injury, it also regulates our temperature by dilating and constricting our blood vessels near the skin surface, controlling the transfer of heat out of the body. It protects us from UV radiation by producing melanin; produces Vitamin D, which helps prevent many diseases including osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, obesity and neurological diseases.
It makes good sense then, that we should protect our body’s largest organ (around 20 square feet) and treat it with the utmost care and respect.
This doesn’t always happen, sadly, and we can tend towards abusing it (albeit inadvertently).
The good news, though, is that one of the simplest methods of protecting our skin, increasing its resilience and keeping it healthy, plump and full of elasticity throughout our lives, is by drinking water (there’s no catch here, honestly).
Our skin consists of approximately 64% water, it therefore makes sense that water is essential to maintain the optimum skin moisture and deliver essential nutrients to the skin cells. Water replenishes the skin tissue and increases its elasticity.
Drinking enough water can also help combat dry and flaky skin and skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema. It also increases the metabolic rate and improves digestive system to flush out toxins from the body. This in turn gives you a healthy and glowing skin.
Whereas we all know that immersing ourselves in water, whether we’re bathing, showering or swimming, makes us feel wonderful, we need also water internally to promote good skin health.
That’s why it’s important to make sure that you head to the happy skin station that is your water cooler, wherever that may be – it could be at home, at the office or in your fitness centre – and start treating the water cooler like it’s your new best friend, which it could be, especially when you start seeing the results that come with drinking water regularly.
