Modern medicine quotes drinking at least 1.5-2.0 litres every day but many people far exceed this in the pursuit of beauty.

 

From a Chinese Medicine perspective drinking excessive amounts of water can actually damage your metabolism and may actually make you much more susceptible to weight gain, lower energy, digestive issues as well as increased wrinkles and sagging skin.

 

This is because too much water and particularly cold water damages the spleen qi (digestive energy). The spleen plays a vital role in TCM in maintaining your weight and prevent sagging of the skin particularly on the face.

 

Traditionally Chinese Medicine believed you should only drink when you are thirsty. In the modern world with the high consumption of sweet beverages and coffee many people report never feeling thirsty but may actually be suffering low energy brought about by dehydration.

 

So how do you tell? A simple test is to pay attention to how many times you go to the toilet during a day. Any less than 5 is probably a sign of dehydration any more than 12 and you are almost certainly drinking to much water (or other beverages).

  

By following your body you can maintain the perfect balance for healthy skin. A certain amount of water is required to flush out heat and toxins but as water is very Yin in nature it can have a cooling effect on the body and put out the vital energy required for your internal organs to function well.

 

Drinking water at room temperature is easier on the digestion than cold water and those with very weak digestion should try boiling water first as this changes the properties of the water and makes it easier for the digestion to absorb.

 

By drinking the right water in the right proportion water can make a valuable and vital contribution to any beauty regime supplying you with a healthy digestion and therefore beautiful skin.