No matter what age or body type, or season of the year, an essential ingredient for good health and your well-being is water. Plain and simple! And while there are so many designer waters to choose from on the market as well as ‘power water’ or boosters, the key here is to understand how much you actually need in your diet, how to achieve hydration properly and what exactly are the benefits. So grab a seat, put your feet up with a glass of H20, and read on. After all, don’t you deserve to be the healthiest you can be?

There are a few telltale signs that you may need to be hydrated; thus heed the signals, because after all, your body is talking to you. Remember this simple fact: water is essential for a healthy body, so don’t wait to drink and nourish your body accordingly. And yes, it’s not an old wives tale- you do need 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday, as well as water rich fruits and veggies.

Simple Signs- What happens when you don’t drink enough water?

1. Your hair becomes dry and brittle – A well-hydrated scalp is the breeding ground for healthy hair. If your hair is dry and malnourished, it can’t grow as long, strong, fast or full as it should.
2. Your lines become more pronounced – El Segundo, CA, dermatologist Howard Murad, MD says, “the pathway of aging and wrinkles is a loss of cellular hydration. When cells aren’t fully hydrated by water and water rich foods, they cannot function properly. When skin is dry and dehydrated from a lack of water, lines become more noticeable.”
3. Your nails turn brittle and easily split – Just like the rest of your body, your nails require hydration to stay healthy. When your body is void of the proper amount of water it needs, your cuticles and nail beds can become dry and begin to peel, rip, crack and bleed.
4. Your skin gets dry and flaky and can break out – Water is important in keeping your skin clear. A dehydrated body holds on to toxins longer than normal, which can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts.
5. Your cellulite gets harder to get rid of – When your skin cells lack water to retain a healthy structure, the external appearance of your body can suffer. Water is a necessary for both the cells and the blood stream to operate smoothly. Without water, your body cannot remove and dissolve fat cells, and rid itself of waste. The result is fat that gets stored as deposits beneath the skin.
6. Your under eye bags & hallows become worse – A body that is hydrated retains water, especially under the eyes, which makes them look puffy and swollen. The eyes seem to take a big hit when you’re not hydrated.
7. Your metabolism slows down – Another effect of not being hydrated is that your body can’t burn calories efficiently or as quickly because it doesn’t possess all of the elements necessary to aid in the elimination process.
8. Your appetite revs up – Water can keep you feeling somewhat full, but a lack of it may make you hungry, and cause you to eat more than what your body thinks it needs. If you don’t drink enough water, your brain may tell you that you are hungry, but really you are just thirsty! Try it.

Here’s a couple of ways to stay hydrated in addition to good ‘ole H20!

1. Fruit – Not only do water rich fruits like watermelon, oranges and grapefruit taste good, but they also quench your thirst.
2. Vegetables – Cucumbers, iceberg lettuce and celery are all made up of at least 95 percent water.
3. Supplements – Some pills are thought to bring water to your body’s cells or allow them to retain more water.
4. Coconut water – With more taste than regular water, coconut water is super hydrating, without the added calories often found in other bottled beverages.

*Portions of article reprinted from: www.newbeauty.com