Feminine Hydration

We have always heard the importance of hydration for health, usual advice states that drinking 2 litres of water per day is ideal. But, here is the question, are we really hydrating at a deep level? Sometimes drinking more water does not involve reaching hydration at a deep cellular level. It is important to consider cellular hydration, which involves the right electrolyte balance between sodium, potassium, calcium and magnessium. It is not necessary to drink 2 litres of water everyday. Of course, it will depend on our weight, physical activity, monthly cycle and seasons (as it if winter or summer). Today, we are going to explore different ways in which we can optimize our hydration to achieve our most energetic, hydrated and beautiful selves. Let's remind ourselves that hydration is essential to be our most radiant and luminous selves, since it influences immune function, skin elasticity, energy, and overall disease resistance. When we are hydrated, we have more energy and concentration to achieve our goals throughout the day.

Hydrating Foods

Let's begin by mentioning one of the pillars to achieve deep hydration. Delicious natural foods: fruit and vegetables. They are sources of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and water. Foods such as cucumbers, watermelon, oranges, lettuce, tomatoes are very high in water content, and therefore super beneficial to achieve optimal hydration. When we consume water rich foods, we are enhancing nutrient absorption and improving our overall health.

Taking it to practice

This can look like starting our day with a vibrant and colorful fruit salad made with berries, apples, mangoes, watermelon or cantaloupes and a good delicious infusion such as rosehip and peppermint with a little bit of honey. During the day, we can snack on celery and carrots, cherry tomatoes, steamed beetroots with feta cheese or pumpkin seeds. 

Hydration and nutrient packaged smoothies

We can introduce more hydration through juices. For example, a colorful carrot and beetroot juice (full of iron and betacarotene!), or a detoxing green apple, kiwi and celery juice with some lemon, or an immune boosting pineapple, basil and ginger juice. In this way, we are incorporating a packed vitamin and fibre cocktail for our bodies, with digestive enzymes that will improve digestion and help us achieve a flat tummy and flush toxins that are stagnant on our system.

Hydrating water

If you do not have time to prepare juices, there are other ways in which you can add electrolytes to your water in a natural way. For instance:

-  adding some rose water and a little bit of honey

-  making a delicious berry water, with blueberries, raspberries and strawberies; 

-  adding lemon and mint;

-  adding chamomile and lavender to it.

-  adding chia seeds, honey and flower essences. 

As we have explored different ways in which you can increase your hydration, it is important to consider dehydrating factors. Nowadays, we are exposed to a number of factors that can impair an optimal hydration, and these ones are:

• Heat and technology: electronic devices are dehydrating, since they generate heat. You could try blocking the blue-light modes and take a break from screens a few times per day.

• Posture and movements: if we spend long periods of time sitted, it will reduce blood flow. Incorporating light movement during the day such as standing up for taking a few steps, taking a short walk, doing calf raises, shoulder rotations, neck rotations can improve our blood flow.

• Air conditioning: it dehydrates the environment by reducing humidity. Using small humidifiers can help to counteract this.

• Travelling: be aware that cars and airplanes are a dehydrating environment. Always carry water with you and make it a delicious hydrating water by adding lemon, a pinch of sea salt, rose water, etc.

• Sunlight: not spending time in sunlight will affect hydration and well-being. Spend times outdoors, at least 15 minutes per day soaking that sunlight to improve your mood and hydration status.

Now that you have an idea of how to better hydrate yourself at a cellular level, you can start incorporating some of the ideas into your daily routine. Be aware of the dehydration factors and try to include small ways to counteract dehydration.