Hello Autumn!
The crisp morning air and the sound of rain are two of my absolute favorite aspects of fall, I also appreciate the cool days that are bright and sunny but force you to bundle up still. I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that my skin and hair are suffering lately because of the weather changes (specifically the cold air and additional humidity!). If you’re anything like me then your poor skin is VERY dry and your hair is frizzy, EEK! Let’s take a look at what we can do to help ease the transition into the dry skin and frizzy hair season! I will be making several smaller entries in this series from October through November. If you have comments or suggestions please feel free to contact us at info@ideallifestylewa.com .
Hydration
We all know that pumpkin spice lattes are LIFE right now but they are not helping your body stay properly hydrated! I know, it’s an absolute bummer that you cant solely live off of them. However, you can have a 16oz. caffeinated drink and then drink 32 oz. of water and it should help you stay properly hydrated. For clarity, whatever amount in ounces (or gallons) you drink of a caffeinated beverage, you should have twice that amount in plain water in order to just break even on that hydration scale! Caffeine is typically incredibly dehydrating and doesn’t really “count” as a source of proper hydration. the reason we suggest this is because caffeine is a slight diuretic effect and can cause you to urinate more frequently which may cause the dehydration. There are many studies on why and how all of this works so here are a few interesting sources I’ve found with different thoughts on the matter:
Hydration is important because it will really help improve your skin and body from the inside out! When your body has the proper hydration, it can digest food and extract the nutrients (from your foods) more effectively. Some common signs that you may experience when your body is dehydrated are dry skin, chapped lips, hangnails/dry rough hands and feet, headaches, sometimes fatigue! I have noticed a few of these issues creeping up on me lately and that’s when I know I should be drinking more water!
If you are wondering how much water you should be drinking each day you can do some simple math and know exactly how much you SHOULD be drinking every day. Half your body weight in ounces is the recommended daily amount of water you should be consuming. Your current weight divided by 2 equals the number of ounces you should drink each day, for example a person weighing 180 lbs should drink at least 90oz. in water.
In conclusion, if you are struggling with dry skin or digestive issues try to drink more WATER not just whatever liquid you can find. Not every drink is made to hydrate you.
Be sure to check back for another Hello Autumn entry about nutrition and supplements that could help you feel like your best self this fall!
