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| Ahhh, so refreshing! |
I can recall growing up as a kid having moments when I absolutely loved water and I recall moments when I absolutely hated water. For example, as a kid I loved water straight from the faucet. You remember when you use to jump on on the kitchen sink and drink it straight from the faucet and your mother came up and smacked you in the back of the head? Oh, or what about when your cousin or grandma would hold the long green water hose and let you drink it until you almost burst and of course, they would spray you with the hose! Now, there were times when I absoluted hated water as a kid? Drum roll please. The top 3 times I hated water as a kid; bath time. I loathed the street lights too because it meant, “come run your water to take a bath.” I did not like water when I had to take it with a pill. “Really mom, what were you thinkin’?” And, the number one time when I absolutely hated water? You guessed it, when we had no Kool Aid!
“My how you’ve grown!” My Aunt Mary would say. Gone are the days of hated water. Today, I can proudly say I love water. Though I never thought I wold live to see the day I’d pay for it; I love it none the less. In my career as a cosemtologist, I seriously can not think of another leading cause to unwanted hair shedding, hair breakage, limp hair and hair that lacks luster other than water.
While it is true that water provides a great source of hydration to our organs; water offers other benefits and aids to our body’s functions. Water has many benefits to our body and overall health. I did some research to highlight a few benefits of water aids in our health which of course improves hair. Shanna Freeman, a contributing writer for the Mayo Clinic’s brochure on water informs us that water can also do the following: reduce the burden on our kidneys, bladder, liver and spleen by flushing out waste. She also writes that water helps dissolve vital minerals and other nutrients; thus making them accessible to our vital organs. Lastly, she writes that water actually carries nutrients and oxygen to cells in our bodies.
In my line of work, I see dehydration in it’s most interesting form. I see it in the skin and hair. I always teach that hair is actually an appendage of your skin in the form of a fiber called hair. With that fact; lack of water is sure to affect the hair. I have saved my customers hundreds of dollars in unnecessary moisture/protein treatments, medications, haircuts, make-up and more just by encouraging them to drink more water. I even offer my clients discounts when I see that they are drinking more water! When you think of drinking water, think of how those tiny molecules in water really do help those other tiny cells go to the right places in your body to do what they need to do make you and your hair healthy. When you reduce your water intake or replace it with increased consumption of sugary beverages, alcoholic beverages or none at all; you are doing great harm to yourself.
While there are many theories on how much water to drink, I suggest to double what your normally do if you are not a great fan of drinking water. So for example, I have read many reports that suggest drinking half your weight in ounces. Let’s say you weight 210 pounds; then you should be drinking 105 oz of water. That is the equivalent to a little more than a gallon and a half per day. While many may never drink half their weight in ounces; it is very well worth the deliberate practice to drink more water each day.
To get more water in, I suggest you carry a bottle with you, accept offers on a cup of water, take a bottle of water to the gym and put a bottle or cup of water by your night stand at night. Remember the many benefits of water such as improved health, weight management, lubed joints, cleaner organs, clearer skin and my favorite; strong, shed free and shiny hair.
Bottoms up!
