The following is an excerpt from The Beauty Diet, a book containing natural beauty secrets to help you achieve ageless beauty from the inside out!

You are a water-based life-form. When you were a growing embryo, you consisted of more than 80 percent water, and as a newborn, you were made up of about 74 percent water. Your blood consists of more than 80 percent water, and your brain, 75 percent. Your liver, which is the body's primary filter, consists of an astonishing 96 percent water! 

Water contributes to a whole host of critical body functions, including transporting oxygen to the cells, removing waste, digesting food, absorbing and assimilating nutrients, maintaining the body's temperature, burning fat, and keeping tissues nice and juicy. Proper hydration also promotes circulation, improves elimination, helps the body flush toxins more efficiently, deters acne, reduces hair loss (water makes up a quarter of the weight of a hair strand), and even strengthens your cuticles and nails, making them less likely to break or tear.

Water rejuvenates the skin and enhances the complexion too. Our skin is made up of several layers. The protective, outermost layer containing pigments, skin cells, and proteins is called the epidermis. As we age, this layer thins out and our skin starts to look more pale and translucent as the number of pigment-containing cells decrease. The next layer of skin is the dermis, which is made up of blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and sweat and oil glands. As we move into our forties and beyond, the dermis loses 20 to 80 percent of its original thickness as the proteins (collagen and elastin) that give it flexibility and strength plummet. The final layer of the skin - the layer under the dermis - contains some hair follicles, blood vessels, and fat and shrinks with age, contributing to the appearance of aging skin. 

In Ayurveda, aging is actually considered a process of dehydration. 

We can't stop the changes that the skin undergoes as we age, but we can certainly do some things to slow down the process and keep our skin looking younger, longer. Hydration is essential and one of the easiest ways to maintain skin health. Water supports the structure of our skin, bolstering each cell to remain plump and juicy, creating radiant skin on the outside. The skin is the last place to receive nutrition from the blood, so exercising regularly can help to increase blood flow, keeping skin looking youthful for a longer period of time. Along with hydrating and exercising, avoid too much sun exposure, which increases wrinkles and contributes to a leathery-looking complexion, and use only pure oils like coconut or jojoba to moisturize.

Not only does hydration support the structure of the skin; it is also essential to the formation of collagen. Chains of collagen molecules are held together by water bridges that are essential to their structure. Without water, collagen molecules become unstable.

Jing Soda is made with all organic fruit and plant concentrates and infused with immune-supporting super herbs that nurture and replenish your life energy. Our soda contains 0% sugar and 0% artificial ingredients yet tastes 100% delicious! Made with herbs like Schizandra, which locks fluids into your cells. This not only increases hydration but also prevents moisture from leaving your body. The more moisture our cells can hold, the more youthful and beautiful our skin looks!

Despite knowing that water is an important nutrient for our health and well-being, 75 percent of Americans are dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when water intake is less than water loss. Every day we lose water through urine, breathing, bowel movements, and sweating. Therefore, it is vital to replenish the body by stayng hydrated and drinking water.

When the body is dehydrated, it cannot operate at an optimal level. Dehydration slows down the metabolic processes as well as limits the body's natural healing capacity. If dehydration becomes chronic, it can cause inflammation in the body, contribute to degenerative diseases, affect kidney function, and lead to muscle damage or constipation. 

When the skin loses too much water, the lipid layers flatten out and slacken, and the skin becomes crepe-like. When you pinch dehydrated skin, it wrinkles and sticks together without its usual bounce, and it may take a long time to return to its proper place. It will look dull and can develop a scaly appearance. Fine lines and dark circles become more pronounced under the eyes. Without proper moisture content, cellular development is inhibited, leaving the skin unable to adequately repair itself. 

EAT YOUR WATER

Previous generations acquired a lot of their hydration through fresh fruits and vegetables. When you eat processed foods your body needs more water than normal to digest, process, detoxify, and eliminate. It is a double whammy against your cells, skin, and beauty - because not only are you not getting the natural  hydration through whole fruits and vegetables; your body actually needs more water to deal with processed foods. In addition, fruits and vegetables are absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full.

Here is a list of beautifying fruits and vegetables with high water content:

• Cucumbers: 96%
• Lettuce: 96%
• Celery: 95%
• Radishes: 95%
• Zucchini: 95%
• Tomatoes: 94%
• Green Cabbage: 93%
• Cauliflower: 92%
• Spinach: 92%
• Strawberries: 92%
• Watermelon: 92%
• Broccoli: 91%
• Grapefruit: 91%
• Cantaloupe: 90%

Your health and how you look is highly dependent on proper hydration. Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. Add lemon, your favorite fruit, or a pinch of sea salt to enhance the beauty benefits. Create a lifelong habit of drinking fresh, delicious spring water whenever possible, and your cells and skin will thank you.