“Beauty is only skin deep” is a phrase we hear often. Looks don’t define true beauty – our interior qualities matter much more.
But when it comes to health, our skin is an important messenger of what’s going on inside.
The Dehydration Epidemic
The majority of people walk around chronically dehydrated. Our bodies are resilient enough that we may not feel it, but there are tell-tale signs.
Sagging skin, under-eye circles, wrinkles, liver spots, and other signs of aging indicate a struggling or sluggish liver, which plays a massive role in the vitality of our skin. Hydrating properly is one of the most effective ways to support the liver.
The liver is the body’s filter and one of its most important defense systems. As blood moves through the liver and to the heart and brain, the liver works to remove as many toxins as possible to protect these sensitive organs.
Over time, the liver gets filled with toxins due to daily exposures that are becoming more common. Unless we’re eating a diet that supports liver health, the liver can’t reach its potential as it performs its duties, which is when symptoms like accelerated aging show up.
By staying hydrated, we support the liver’s ability to manage and flush toxins, we healthfully thin our blood, and we allow our inner vitality to reflect outwardly in the tone and quality of our skin.
Why Hydration is Key
When adequately hydrated, our bodies can effectively remove toxins and poisons from our livers, kidneys, and other organs.
Not only does this make a world of difference for our skin, but it also helps to protect us from chronic conditions stemming from exposure to toxins like pesticides, plastics, toxic heavy metals, and chemical fragrances.
If every human being were sufficiently hydrated, the severity of chronic illness worldwide would plummet. That’s how crucial hydration is.
And if it’s healthy, glowing skin you’re after, look no further for the fountain of youth than hydrating foods and beverages designed to fill your cells with life-giving water to support your beauty both inside and outside.
Hydration Hacks
Below are some of the most potent hydrating beverages that our Earthly Mother has to offer. Incorporate them into your routine and watch your skin transform.
Cucumber juice: is the best rejuvenation tonic available, with unique electrolytes that deeply hydrate cells. It’s highly alkalizing, vitamin and mineral-rich, and hugely supportive for flushing toxins. Consume 16 oz of nothing but juiced cucumber daily for best results.
Lemon water: is a simple yet powerful hydration tool. Squeezing lemon into purified water upon waking is a gift to the liver and body, starting your day with a hydration boost. Use the juice of half of a lemon for 16 oz of water and a whole lemon for 32 oz.
Coconut water: has one of the highest electrolyte contents of any beverage and is an anti-aging superstar. Another tip is to apply coconut water topically to hydrate and nourish the skin and to aid in healing from burns or irritation.
Raw fruits and vegetables: contain living water with bioactive nutrients attached to natural glucose designed by Nature to nourish every aspect of our physical health. Incorporating more raw foods into your diet will hydrate your entire body deeply.
Leafy greens: are another way to get raw foods into your diet. A supercharged hydrating meal consists of a large salad with 4-6 cups of leafy greens heaped with your favorite fruits and raw veggies. One of my favorites is red leaf lettuce with grapes, asparagus, fresh fennel, and a few chopped tangerine slices!
Fresh juices: like just-squeezed oranges, apples, or blended pears make for a luxurious and delicious hydrating beverage. Asparagus and apple juiced together is a tasty anti-aging powerhouse. Cilantro, celery, kale, and apple is another wonderful option. Carrot with ginger, orange, and turmeric is a sweet and spicy twist on a popular staple.
Raw cooked food ratio: is something to remember when considering hydration. Eating only cooked foods requires our bodies to borrow water from our organs. Aiming for a 50-50 ratio is an excellent step. Try eating raw until dinnertime as an experiment, filling your mornings and afternoons with mouth-watering fruit smoothies and flavor-packed salads. Or choose a couple of days of the week to focus on eating raw.
If beautiful skin and vibrant health are what you’re after, minimize or altogether avoid the list below. Each item listed drains our cells of vital water supplies, drawing water out of our blood and organs to compensate.
- Coffee and other caffeinated drinks (green tea, black tea, matcha, kombucha, energy drinks)
- All vinegar
- Stress-induced adrenaline
- Diets too high in fats (including animal products, dairy, and even too many healthy fats like avocado, tahini, and olive oil)
- Alcohol
- Soft drinks
- Added salt Inner
Inner Beauty
Inner beauty is about more than just our spiritual and emotional qualities. It’s also about how we care for our physical bodies. In this way, inner beauty directly relates to outer vitality. As we advance in years, the amount of care we’ve given to our bodies will manifest in how well we age. The beautiful thing about our bodies is their resilience. It’s possible to reverse gray hair by healing the adrenals and to revitalize dry or sagging skin by filling the body with hydrating foods and healing our livers.
Let your inner beauty extend to what you’re putting inside, and embrace the vibrancy our bodies are designed to express at any age.
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