NATURE'S BIGGEST BEAUTY SECRET

By Susan Shane

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We've all occasionally seen those mature women (fifty years or older) whose faces and bodies seem to defy the aging process; without tucks, Botox, chemical peels, face lifts, or liposuction, they've managed to maintain a slim figure and a healthy glow that makes them look twenty years younger. Then there are the guys who, nearing sixty, still get our hearts racing with their well-toned bodies, sparkling eyes and youthful smiles. Is it just the luck of the genetic draw? Well, maybe, in some cases. But it just might be that some people have tapped into one of nature's purest nourishments and one of its most effective health and beauty supplement. It's nature's secret elixir, and for most of us it's abundantly available--as close as your kitchen faucet. It's plain old H2O--water.

Water, of course, is one of life's essential. Without it, we would survive only for about three days. Next to oxygen, it is the most vital ingredient that our bodies absorb, and it is the most important nutrient in our bodies. In fact, as one expert writes, since the average human being's body is about 60 to 75 percent water, "the water you drink literally becomes you."

From the Health Perspective, doctors say that drinking water aids in the digestion and absorption of food. It regulates our body temperatures and blood circulation, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, and removes toxins and other wastes. Regular water consumption helps combat ailments such as backaches, short-term memory lost, fatigue, heartburn and gastritis. The body's fluids also cushion our joints and protect the spinal cord and other tissues and organs from shock and damage.

Without sufficient water intake, experts say the pancreas is less efficient, acids in the stomach are not properly neutralized, and intestinal functions are hampered. Sore throats, dark-colored urine, headaches, fatigue, and muscle cramps are frequent signs that have been associated with dehydration.

In his book, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, J. Batmanghelidj, M.D. writes that extended lack of proper water consumption can cause conditions including asthma, allergies, arthritis, angina, migraine headaches, hypertension, raised cholesterol, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, depression, and diabetes.

Dr. Batmanghelidj also warns that tea, coffee, and soda are not good substitutes for water since most often they contain caffeine, which acts as a dehydrating agent. Water, it seems, is crucial to staying healthy. And, lest we forget, it's as important for those of us with more cosmetic body concerns.

The editors at Alluring Looks, for instance, claim that "the most beneficial beauty treatment is water." And most weight reduction plans and diets emphasize the importance of consuming water since, most claim, it reduces our appetites and helps keep the skin from sagging after weight loss.

DRINKING WATER ALSO HELPS:

• Keep skin hydrated, supple, & moist, thereby reducing
  wrinkles caused by dry skin.
• Keep hair shiny.
• Reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
• Flush out toxins from the body more efficiently.
• Develop muscle tone and dexterity.
• The liver metabolize, which aids in reducing stored fats,
  and stimulates the kidneys, which reduces water retention.

The daily water intake recommended by health specialists is 6-10 eight-ounce glasses. For some, that presents a problem. And if the suggested amount is far more water than you normally consume, you may find it difficult keep up. Here are a few tips that may help.

HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR DAILY WATER INTAKE:

• Start the day right, drink a glass of water when you wake.
• If you're at work, keep a glass or jug of fresh water nearby so it's within easy reach throughout the day.
• When you're out during the day, carry a bottle of water so you can have a drink whenever you want.
• Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables; they have a high-water content as well as many other health benefits.
• At night, keep a bottle or glass of water at your bedside.

You may also find yourself rushing off to a restroom more often than you have been accustomed. As your body adjusts to the increase that usually diminishes. Remember, that it's all in the cause of good health and better looks.

It should be pointed out that some doctors argue that the recommended average daily water intake of 6-10 glasses is extreme or unnecessary. Some warn that "guzzling water" can be harmful. According to Dr. Gary Robertson, who studies water metabolism at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, for people taking medications such as anti-diuretic hormone the consumption of too much water may even be very dangerous. Others suggest that about four 8-ounce glasses is sufficient, that "a better way to get water is in fruits and vegetable," or that we listen to our own bodies and drink when we're thirsty. "Look, if you're running to the bathroom so much it seems like you can't get any work done, you're drinking too much," says Dr. Ann Grandjean. "If you're going less than four times a day, you're probably drinking too little." Although most doctors advise that increased water intake is harmless for nearly everyone, be safe and consult a physician.

For me, as a single woman sliding gracefully into the last years of her thirties, lots of exercise and 6-8 glasses of water a day has worked wonders. Experts generally agree that bottled water is no more beneficial than tap water, so I filter my own in my Brita. It's cheap, I feel great, and I can still compete--very well, thank you--with the wave of nubile younger women who are gobbling up all the available men.

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