The more water you drink, the better the skin is hydrated.
True and false. “Healthy skin is skin that has enough water,” insists Valérie Espinasse, micro-nutritionist. But it is not advisable to drink more than the recommended average for beautiful skin, nor too little, at the risk of creating a state of skin dehydration. In medicine, for example, the skin fold is pinched to check the body’s state of hydration. So to have beautiful skin, you must not be under hydrated. You should not lack good fats either: these are the Omega 3 and 6 (oilseeds, oils, avocado) essential fatty acids conditioning the elasticity of skin tissue. Dr. Nadine Pomarède, dermatologist adds: “the appearance of the skin, in particular its hydrated character, also depends on the regular application of creams. »
You should only drink when you are thirsty
Fake. When we feel the need, we are already a little dehydrated. It is therefore necessary to compel oneself to drink as regularly as possible throughout the day. About 1.5 liters of water per day in a temperate climate. Because this makes it possible to compensate for elimination through urine, perspiration and perspiration (evaporation of water on the surface of the epidermis). This average must be increased in case of heat or intensive sports practice. We can therefore count a glass of water every hour. And do not hesitate to drink normally at the table. Unless you have water retention (swelling, heavy legs, weight gain, etc.), in which case you should drink between meals.
The better you hydrate, the more toxins you eliminate
True. Because this stimulates drainage, which allows the body to eliminate water-soluble toxins and other waste. It is one of the functions of the kidneys. But there is no point in drinking too much. Swallowing four liters of water a day tires the kidneys and does not make the skin more radiant! A good recipe for regaining a fresh complexion is to drink half a lemon squeezed into a glass of water at room temperature every morning on an empty stomach. This detox drink makes the complexion brighter in just a few days.
Drinking at room temperature is better
True. Even if, for the skin, it does not change much. You can drink hot to warm up in winter. In summer, cold drinks replace them. But it is better not to drink ice cold all the time: the cold contracts the digestive organs and therefore affects digestion. In chinese medicine, it is rather recommended to drink at room temperature, or even hot, even water, to facilitate digestion. This has an indirect but real impact on the condition of the skin.
Any drink will do
Fake. Obviously, nothing prevents you from consuming drinks with various and varied virtues, but only water remains essential. That of the tap, if it is good. Otherwise, you can drink bottled water, mineral or spring, but preferably still. Bottled waters are rich in magnesium, calcium, sodium, chlorine, zinc, fluorine, and for some lithium. Minerals necessary for the good health of the skin and which are well absorbed by the body, when the pH of the water approaches that of the body (7 or 8). Which is not always the case because it also depends on our diet. It is therefore common sense to vary your water consumption so as to have different intakes.
Tea, herbal tea or coffee, it comes to the same
Fake. “They all bring water to the body, that’s already it, points out Valérie Espinasse. But coffee contains, among other caffeine, which will have a cardiac impact and will possibly be anxiety-provoking at high doses (more than five cups per day). On the other hand, tea, and especially green tea, provides antioxidants, beneficial for the skin, thanks to their anti-radical action, and therefore anti-aging. It is avoided to drink it during the meals, because it decreases the absorption of iron. Herbal teas and other infusions have their own virtues. It is also better to consume them after the meal if you want to benefit from their benefits. »
“Beauty drinks” are interesting
True and false. They contain water, minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium) and vitamins (A, B, C, E) but also sugar. Others consist of a single vitamin in large doses (to be mixed with water). There are also blends of teas with antioxidant properties and natural flavors. They therefore do not all have the same compositions, but their claims are similar: anti-aging and moisturizing properties. For Valérie Espinasse, “these products are of little interest if they contain synthetic vitamins, because these are less well assimilated by the intestine. Better to prepare a real fruit and vegetable juice. This makes it possible to play on a vitamin diversification and to have a contribution in anti oxidants and in particular in polyphenols, as well as fibers and all the other nutrients present in these foods. On the other hand, if the drink contains acerola or any other vitamin C natural, so why not? »
Coconut water is good for the skin
True. Trending on the Net, this drink is well placed on the shelves both in supermarkets and in organic shops. It is transparent, not very sweet and is gaining more and more followers among those looking for a healthy and natural drink, with a health connotation. After a gym session or as a snack, the water of coconut would be beneficial for the skin as for the rest of the body, because very moisturizing and rich in vitamins and minerals (calcium…). It would even be as good to drink as to apply to the skin, to hydrate it, limit small pimples and other skin imperfections… But be careful of the quantities swallowed: unlike water, it still contains a little sugar, so calories.
How water gets to the skin
“Whether ingested directly by drinking or coming from food, water reaches the middle part of the skin, the dermis, explains Dr. Nadine Pomarède. But it does not reach the epidermis, since it is not vascularized. Only the dermis has vessels allowing nutrients (nutrients carried by the blood) to diffuse to the superficial part of the skin. The flow which diffuses does not change according to the quantities, more or less important, of ingested water. »
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