Do you know anyone who seems to defy time by continually looking as radiant and youthful as they always have, no matter how many years have passed? Wouldn’t you like to be that person?
My patients often ask what they can do to look young and vibrant for as long as possible, and the answer I give is so simple that I want to share it with all of you. I know many people spend the winter holidays visiting family and friends, and they want to look their best while doing so.
The good news is that it’s easy to revitalize your appearance with two simple steps: drinking more water and getting more sleep.
Do you know what the major difference is between a plum and a prune? Water. If given the choice, I think most people would prefer their skin to be firm and smooth like a plum rather than looking like a prune– all wrinkly and dried up. Hydration is the key factor in reducing wrinkles, increasing muscle flexibility, and relieving kidney-related low-back pain, all in one fell swoop. Humans are primarily made up of water, which occupies as much as 60-70% of our bodies.
As the weather gets colder, the heat begins to kick on, drying out the air we breathe at home and at work. Our bodies dry out quickly when there is no moisture in the air, if we don’t focus on replenishing the liquid that we lose. Not only will your skin start to get a leathery, prune-like appearance when you’re dehydrated, but your muscles will stop functioning optimally and your internal organs will be under a great deal more stress, meaning that they won’t work as well as they should. Staying hydrated throughout the winter will help you look and feel fabulous.
So how much water should you drink? Adults should be consuming half their body weight in ounces of water every day. That means that if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water throughout the course of each day. Many of my patients find it simplest to refill a large water bottle several times, so that it’s easy to keep track of how much water they’ve finished.
If you dislike drinking water because you find that it makes you have to urinate too frequently, it might be a sign that the water isn’t getting absorbed fully into your system. Add a pinch of himalayan pink salt to each bottle of water you drink, to provide important minerals which will help your tissues absorb the water.
In addition to increasing the number of water bottles you drink each day, another easy way to hydrate is topically through the skin. Soaking in the bath can actually replenish the water you’ve lost to the dry air around you. Stay in the tub until you feel the need to urinate– that’s a good sign that your body has regained the water it needs to function optimally.
As you work on staying hydrated, it’s also important to increase the amount of sleep you’re getting each night. The holidays can be a busy, stressful time for some people, but focusing on sleep is an investment in your health and mental well-being, as well as your appearance. After two hours of uninterrupted sleep, your body begins to secrete Human Growth Hormone, which stimulates growth and regeneration in the cells throughout your body.
When you are well-rested, your skin is more radiant, your brain functions more optimally, and your immune system is better able to fight off any colds and flus that you encounter.
This all means that getting enough sleep should be a key part of your health care plan, especially during the winter season. Ideally, you should get 7 ½ to 9 hours of sleep each night to keep your body running smoothly. If you find it hard to get a full night’s sleep during the busy holiday season, don’t be afraid to take naps.
It sounds simple, but it’s true- drinking more water and getting more sleep are easy and efficient ways to look and feel your very best.