Water

[RawMagnolia]

Well... I have been severely dried out lately. Mostly my hands, but also my face. I moistureize all the time... but to no help. I have been trying to increase the amount of fruits and veggies. Fruits in the morning, then a salad and veggies all afternoon... and then supper with my hubby at night.

I am also weaning myself off diet coke. In my bad days (years ago) it was basically all I drank. Lately I'm not having much trouble staying away from it, as it doesn't taste good when you're eating fruits and veggies.

At any rate, I am drinking water almost exclusively, but I just don't "feel" like drinking much... probably due to the water I'm taking in thru fruits and veggies.

Does anyone know a good way to increase the amount of water you drink? Like a few drops of lemon in it?? I read once that you shouldn't swig it.. but that would really be the only way for me to get in more water (that I can imagine).

Or anyone have advice for dry skin??

P.S. I'm in Canada and have a hypoactive thyroid... so I'm often cold and dry. I use a space heater on my desk at work just to keep it warm enough.

Thanks!!
Sandra

[Cecilia]

I add half a lemon to two liters of water to make my dh drink that instead of coke. He loves it :)

[Rawkinlocs]

The way that I got myself AND my family to drink more water was simply to eliminate ALL other beverages!

Eating nuts, seeds, etc. will make you thirsty and if all there is to drink IS water...there ya go!

But also eat plenty of water-rich fruits and veggies...nature made those little gems THE best water distiller. I find that while I do still drink water, when eating a LOT of fresh, juicy, high water content fruits, I just don't feel the need for much water as my body is getting so much of it via fruit.

Adding lemon to water never helped me want to drink it more...but that's just ME...but not having anything else to drink in the house or on my person when I get thirsty DID help..tremendously!

[Sarah]

Cucumber in your water is nice also. It gives it a light, refreshing flavor - more interesting than plain water, and not as acidic as lemon.

You might also try drinking mineral water if you miss the carbonation of sodas.

[Secret Heart]

I drink about 3.5 litres of water a day. My secret to keeping my intake high is to sip away at my nalgene container of it throughout the day...not waiting until I get thirsty (by that time you're dehydrated as is). Hope this helps!

Heather

[karenisraw]

I would bring a container of water (I used to bring in a half gallon water jug to work) and flavor it with some juice like orange, grapefruit or lemon, peach, etc. I thought about some really watered down juice would be good for you.

k
:D

[BDraw]

Looks like you got lots of info on how to down the water, so I'd like to touvh on the other topic you ask about -- dry skin.

I am in Montana -- very dry! I have to have some flax oil in my system daily to prevent the dry itchy skin. What I do is get flax seed, grind them in a coffee grinder (never more than 1/3 cup at a time), and put this ground flax in my food. I make flax crackers, put the flax meal in smoothies, what ever I can think of.

One of my latest is: 2 T. flax and 2 T sesame seed, grind in coffee grinder. Add 1/4 cup water, let sit 15 minutes. Meanwhile use food processor to chop 1 apple, add about 2 tablespoons raisens, the ground seed and 1 teaspoon or so of lecithin (if you have it). Chop a bit and enjoy, like cereal. Good and filling.

I'm very careful to get at least 2 tablespoons of flax seed in me daily. And I figure I really could use the extra calcium of the sesame seed.

I also noticed that when I did not shave my legs, they didn't get as dry. Hairy, but not itchy.

Hope this helps! :D

[RawMagnolia]

Wow! I really really would like to thank everyone for your wonderfull suggestions... but one responce in particular has really blown me away!!

Secret Heart you said that you sip away on water thru the day and do not wait until you get thirsty. You know that makes sense, but I never really thought about it. I've always considered it that we should drink when we "feel" the need (get thirsty).

I guess I'll just start sipping away lol!! Thanks for that tid bit of information.

Also, BDraw, Flax seed huh? I have been adding olive oil and flax seed oil to my diet via my smoothies and salads. But I just started it, so hopefully I'll see some improvement in the near future. Either that or hopefully winter blows away lol!!!

Everyone's advice to add some good flavour to my water sounds interesting. I have always loved water, so it's not hard for me to take it in. I think my main problem was that I figured water was only for when I felt thirsty... so now I think combining good flavours along with sipping away and I should be improving things along.

Blessing to all!!!
Sandra

[JinxieKat]

The flax seed oil has helped me more than anything else. My skin is better, my hair is better, and my nails are better. I'd definately give that one a try. Flax seed and my system work nicely together.

Jinx

[RawMagnolia]

Thanks! I just checked which oil it was that I have at home and put in my smoothies... and it's hemp seed oil. So I'll have to get some flax seeds and give them a try... I know that they are excellent for improving the fur on your pets.