I spoke with Washington-based esthetician Cassandra Lanning to learn the facts, bust some myths and discover how to get the most out of your H20.
When you take more fluid in, gulps as opposed to sips, you have a greater volume of fluid in the stomach. That stimulates the activity of the stretch receptors in the stomach, which then increase intra-gastric pressure and promote faster emptying. This is why gulping is preferred.
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You can sip, in order to get the nutrients of your food. Remember when you were younger and your parents wanted you to wait and drink most of your drink after the meal? Turns out they were right. You do need some liquid while you eat, but the majority should be taken afterward.
MYTH: 8-12 ounces a day is a requirement.
According to esthetician Cassandra Lanning, “the standard rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces.” So how does one figure this out? Well consider this: I weigh 140 lbs and I aim to drink 8-9 cups of water. The way I came to this conclusion is dividing my weight by 2 (70 oz) and then converting that into cups. There are 8 oz in a cup so 70 oz divided by 8 oz gives you 8.75 cups of water. This is a more accurate way of measuring the proper amount of water one needs to drink daily. This does away with the “recommended dose,” as those who are heavier need more water intake. My personal suggestion is getting yourself a big bottle that provides you with as close to your daily requirement as possible. Fill it up once or twice and challenge yourself to finish it.
FACT: Coffee drinkers need more water.
This is absolutely a fact. Caffeine is extremely dehydrating and takes away from any bit of water you may intake throughout the day. In order to offset this, it is suggested that you add 1.5 cups of water to your daily dose for every 1 cup of caffeinated beverage you drink. Note that I said caffeinated beverage! This means coffee drinkers are not the only ones at risk. Tea, soda, energy drinks, etc. count, too!
MUST READ: The ONE Time You Shouldn’t Drink Lemon Water
MYTH: Water removes skin toxins.
The idea that water expels toxins from the inside-out of your body is not exactly true. Yes, “Drinking water is good for your body, but you’re not expelling toxins out of your skin as people would like to think,” says Lanning. Though the health of your epidermis does depend on your necessary daily water intake, your body doesn’t prioritize that way. Lanning explains, “Think of your skin as the last stop on the bus route. Whatever you take in through your mouth will go through your digestive system, and through all of your different systems internally. Your skin is the last priority. Our bodies are 60% water, and when you’ve got blood that needs water, lymphatic fluid that needs water, and all these different things within your body that need water, there’s not going to be enough left once it gets to your skin.”
FACT: Room temperature is best.
Our organs are disrupted by the chilliness of ice water, and therefore room temperature water is always the better option. It is more easily processed through the body this way. Lanning even suggest adding a pinch of salt to your water in order to boost the mineral content, making it absorb quicker into the body.
MYTH: Frequent bathroom breaks mean you are hydrated.
It is important to pace yourself when drinking your daily water intake. If not, frequent bathroom usage can occur, and believe it or not, peeing frequently can actually be counterproductive to your hydration goals. Lanning states, “When you’re drinking too much, you’re just going to pee it all out so it’s not gonna get utilized. When you drink too much water, you’re diluting the minerals in your system which need water for transport across cell membranes and through the bloodstream, but if you’re drinking too much, you’re going to flush all that stuff away. It’s important to drink enough water, but not too much.” Becoming hydrated is a gradual process. It’s about consistently taking in small amounts of water over a long period of time.
For more skin and beauty tips, visit Kiss The Chaos and follow me on Facebook and Instagram: @Ooolala_laa
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