Hi bb!!! If you’ve been following my blog and Instagram since the early days then you may remember a series I used to do called DAILY DETOX RITUALS where I would share my most coveted daily detox tips and rituals! It’s been forevs since I’ve done these but I thought I’d bring them back.. just for fun! Todays DDR is all about hydration! One of my most important Daily Detox Rituals is Water; YOU MUST DRINK WATER! Plain and simply: water is the main component of the body ! In fact, the adult body is about 60-70% water. Our bodies use water in all of its cells, organs and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Since we lose water through breathing, sweating and digestion, it’s extremely important to drink water to hydrate and replenish in order to ensure proper body function! Drinking enough water is vital in keeping our bodies healthy.

So how much water should you be drinking everyday? A good rule of thumb that I follow is this: drink half of your body weight in ounces. So, since I weigh about 120 pounds, I should be drinking roughly 62 ounces of water each day, which equates to about 2 liters of water (I tend to round-up rather than round down when it comes to my water intake).

I try to do 2-2.5 liters of water a day, majority of that amount is alkaline water, but I also have a cup or 2 of herbal tea + water in my mushroom coffee + I do like 2 cups of water in my protein shakes everyday.. all of which is in addition to my daily amount of straight water! I always drink water right when I wake up too (at least 8 ounces) and I love adding a squeeze of lemon to it to kick start my metabolism and alkalized my body upon waking up.

While it is important to drink an adequate amount of water, there is such a thing as over doing it, which can actually be harmful to your body. (Yet again I arrive at the topic of BALANCE!) That’s why I like the half your body weight in ounces amount, plus a little more.. it’s a safe bet!

There are SO many health benefits of drinking enough water each day, but here are some that I find most important:

Relieves fatigue: If your body isn’t getting enough water it’s going to have a harder time functioning properly and efficiently which in turn decreases your energy and makes you tired!

Aids in Digestion: Inadequate water in the body often results in constipation. When your body is dehydrated the colon pulls water from the stools in an effort to maintain hydration, thereby making them harder and difficult to pass; which means you’re eliminating less often, which means you’re storing waste rather than getting rid of it, which means more weight and toxicity. This may be TMI but I always joke that’s how I “keep my figure” (I eliminate a few times a day) but it’s true: the quicker your body can break down food, absorb the nutrients from it + pass it, the lighter and healthier you’ll look and feel 😉

Weight-loss: Water is calorie free! Also, when you drink water it fills your stomach + reduces the tendency to over eat. Plus, by staying hydrated it helps increase the rate at which the body can burn fat + also promotes the breakdown and elimination of fat cells by flushing out toxic waste build up. While water doesn’t have a magical effect on weight-loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages sort of does!! Drink water instead of that high-calorie sugary drink, as those are often the culprits that contribute to weight gain.

Detoxification: Water is an excellent detoxifier as it helps flush out toxins from the body and rid it of waste primarily through sweat, elimination and urine. It also promotes kidney function and reduces kidney stones by diluting the salts and minerals in urine that cause kidney stones.

Clear and Glowing Skin: Our skin is the largest elimination organ in the body!! When the body is not sufficiently hydrated, the skin is the first site that is affected when your body goes into water conservation mode. When dehydrated, the skin loses moisture, which in turn lessens circulation to the skin area, circulation that provides essential nutrients. If the body is even slightly dehydrated and the pores become clogged, the imbalanced pH of the skin will create a fertile breeding ground for bacteria, thus creating acne. Mo’ water, less problems. Not to mention, de-hydration can make your skin look dry and wrinkled too.

Decrease Stress: About 70% to 80% of your brain tissue is water. When you’re dehydrated, not only is your body dehydrated, but so is your mind! Hence the headache! If you’re feeling thirsty then you’re already a little dehydrated. Help keep your stress levels down by drinking water regularly throughout the day!

Having a hard time tracking how much water you’re drinking (or NOT drinking)? What helps me is carrying around a big water bottle (at least 1 liter sized).. That way I can easily see if I am behind on my water intake or not. Maybe even set a few alarms in your phone to help you remind you! There are also tons of aps for your phone specifically designed to help you track your water intake! If you’re simply not drinking because you’re having trouble with the ‘taste’ try alkaline water.. it tastes so good… and/or add some organic lemon juice or cucumber slices to your water to jazz it up!

K, that’s all for today… now go drink water babes! Oh yeah, and come hang with me on the gram + on my YouTube channel until my next blog post!