WATER for your Mind Body and Soul
Water, the most important natural element in the world. With its life-giving properties it makes up 60% of our bodies and 72% of the Earth, nourishing us and cleansing our skin and our soul, it is a source of peace and purity and can bring perspective with its fluidity representing change and the passage of time.
Water has integral roles to play in a variety of vital body functions; actively lubricating joints, forming the saliva and mucus we need to digest food and helping to carry oxygen around the body. In addition to this, drinking water is required for healthy digestion, the removal of body waste, toxins and the maintenance of healthy blood pressure. Water also helps to regulate your body’s temperature whilst supporting the function and structure of vital organs and tissues, including the brain and spinal cord, affecting our ability to think, to converse, to learn, to exercise, to sleep…the list goes on and on.
It is not just inside the body where your water intake counts, dehydration has many visible signs, mainly associated with skin problems. If the outermost layer of the epidermis doesn't contain enough water, skin will lose elasticity, feel rough and look dull with overall tone and complexion appearing uneven and fine lines more noticeable. Sipping 7 to 8 glasses of water throughout the day will give your skin a healthy glow and is also one of the best things you can do for your teeth – especially if it’s fluoridated. Make sure to drink enough to compensate for loss of fluids during high heat and exercise.
To top it all off, water is vital for our wellbeing; helping us to feel happier and more content, after all, we are one being – mind, body and spirit. A 2014 study on the benefits of water found that people who normally drank a lot of water weren’t as calm and didn’t feel as many positive emotions when they couldn’t drink as much as they normally did. Those with a low fluid intake showed an increase in positive emotion, satisfaction, and calmness when they increased their water intake.
89% of the British population do not drink enough water, we tend to neglect this elixir of life in our everyday lives. Literally on tap, the presence of water can often be taken for granted, but it is important to make it an integral part of our daily routines and to drink more of it. Whichever way you choose to increase your intake, whether you opt for regular doses from your filtered water bottle or filter tap, flavour it with apple, mint, lemon or cucumber or get your quota from other beverages, boosting your water intake can be simple and extremely effective. Immediate improvement in how you feel and function and, within hours, how you look are great incentives to make H2O your best friend.
The ideal way to start your day: A large glass of water first thing in the morning, will jumpstart your metabolism and flush out toxins and other nasties our body doesn’t need. If you are drinking water to lose weight, aim to have a glass half an hour before every meal or snack to boost metabolism and decrease calorie consumption. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake as these food sources have a high-water content not to mention great nutrition. Some brilliant health foods to include in your diet and improve your water intake include berries, melon, cucumber and salad, courgette, tomatoes, yoghurt and peppers. Keeping a water bottle in the places you frequent the most, like your car or at your desk, provides another great reminder to drink more throughout the day.
Starting your day hydrated and maintaining water intake throughout will ensure great energy levels and encourage a sense of wellbeing to keep you focused and feeling good day in, day out.
Water and what is symbolises has been a constant source of inspiration at TEMPLESPA, from the beautiful blue of the Mediterranean Sea to hydrating skincare and evocative names. Let your imagination send you to exotic places with our aromatic LA LA LAGOON shower and bath gel. Formulated with a luxury spa fragrance of peppermint, anise, rosewood and patchouli, along with skin conditioning aloe vera to cleanse, soften and chase away any tiredness whilst leaving your skin beautifully fragrant.
Feeling a little parched? Let QUENCH work its hydrating magic, our Best Anti-Ageing & Rejuvenating Mask for Dry Skin. A drink for the skin and saturated with goodness, Quench will nourish and freshen, brightening and bringing skin back to life for a dewy, radiant and plump complexion.
Cheers to that!