Celebration + Hydration = A Healthy 4th of July
On this Fourth of July, it is likely you will be spending time celebrating our country’s independence, being outside with friends and family, gathering for a barbecue, watching fireworks, or relaxing on a refreshing body of water. Whatever your plans include, be sure to stay safe by staying hydrated. Your skin is precious and it requires care to prevent harm. Drinking plenty of water is key in making any celebration weekend healthy and safe. Water is not only essential for life, but for the health and appearance of your skin. It’s important to try and drink an average of six to eight glasses of water per day to stay fully hydrated and keeping a water bottle with you during the day is always a good idea. Those with certain kidney health problems, those who are pregnant, and anyone experiencing: fever, sickness, or recent weight loss must increase their intake of water to compensate. Hydration before, during, and after exercise is also very important to maintain the levels of water your body needs as you burn energy.
Staying hydrated is essential for life as every cell, organ, and system in your body requires it in order to function properly. Many forget that their skin is, in fact, an organ. Like any organ, it is made up of cells that depend on water in order for the organ to fulfill its role. If your body is not getting the proper hydration it needs, your skin will suffer by becoming dry and flaky which in the long run causes wrinkling. The unfortunate dilemma we face with skin hydration is that when you drink water, it will reach other organs before it reaches the skin, so you might not be giving your skin the proper hydration it needs by just simply quenching your thirst. However, by staying properly hydrated and applying moisturizers to your skin, you can not only take care of your skin but help prevent wrinkling as well.
Dehydration is also a very serious and preventable problem that can drastically impact your overall health. Not only is dehydration dangerous, but it can happen unexpectedly. Be sure to take notice if you are experiencing a dry mouth, extreme thirst, sudden fatigue, confusion, or dizziness as these are noticeable signs that you may be dehydrated. So please celebrate and hydrate, and have a happy, healthy 4th of July!