All health and fitness experts agree that getting plenty of water is key to skin health and beauty. Staying hydrated gives your skin that healthy dewy glow, while dehydration can lead to flaking skin and wrinkles. Water, of course, is crucial to the body. It makes up 70 percent of the body's tissues and plays a role in nearly every body function, from regulating temperature and breathing, to digestion and removing waste.

According to WebMD, for staying hydrated, water does the best job. Other beverages like alcoholic drinks, and those high in caffeine can actually take moisture away and they add calories. Your body is about 60-percent water and according to the Mayo Clinic the average adult loses 1.5 liters a day through urine output and an additional 1 liter through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. That’s almost 5 pounds of weight fluctuation daily. Experts say that you need to drink enough water to replace what is lost each day.

So how much water should you drink?

The suggested daily water intake of water varies depending on the person you ask. Some say 2 to 3 pints, in addition to the 2 pints of water that are obtained from the foods that we eat every day. Others say you should drink half of your body weight in ounces, so a person who weighs 140 pounds should drink 70 ounces of water a day. And everyone, of course, has heard the 8-10 8oz. glasses of water a day rule. These rules all have one thing in common; you should drink lots of water. Basically what you need to know is that you should drink enough water so that you urinate once every 2-3 hours. Staying hydrated is the key, Geralyn Coopersmith of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute, says that “By the time you feel thirsty, you’re probably already dehydrated.” She suggests carrying a bottle of water with you, this makes it more accessible to you throughout the day.

Water from food?

Yes, according to WebMD the food that we eat should provide 20% of our daily water intake. The following list includes some high water content foods provided by the American Dietetic Association.

Lettuce is 95% water

Watermelon is 92% water

Broccoli is 91%

Grapefruit, milk, orange juice, carrots, yogurt and apples are all over 80% water

How does hydration work?

The skin contains a considerable water reserve (approximately 15 to 18 pounds). Water attaches to molecules in the skin that retain water like a sponge. A natural emulsion comprised of water and lipids (fat) prevents the skin from losing water and dehydrating. However with sun exposure and age we produce less of the substances needed to aid the skin’s ability to retain water. Drinking plenty of fluids and hydrating from the inside out remains important as we age.

Drs. Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields of Rodan + Fields Skincare say that external humidity plays a role in how healthy your skin looks as well, their advice, “Combine plenty of water, with a great moisturizer.”

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