Water has drawbacks as well as benefits… Pay attention to these while showering
The most important thing you should do to cleanse yourself of the day’s fatigue and stress is to take a good, bubbly bath. The relaxing effect of water is, in fact, far greater than we might imagine...
In Japan, bathing takes place in an almost ceremonial, sacred atmosphere. The bathtub resembles a small pool where the whole family gathers. The Japanese first soap themselves thoroughly, then rinse off, and afterward relax for an hour in a pool filled with hot water, because these health-conscious people of the Far East have succeeded in discovering the relaxing effect of bathing. In other words, water is ideal not just for cleansing, but also for purifying, renewing, and shedding fatigue.
You should take care that the temperature of the water you bathe in is neither too hot nor too cold. Water that is too hot causes the blood to rush toward the surface, making it harder for the body’s central systems to do their job. Hot water can also cause certain circulatory problems and has an even worse effect on people with weak hearts. Another downside of hot water is that it softens the skin and can make varicose veins more visible. On the other hand, water that is too cold also has its drawbacks: cold water, often preferred in the summer months, actually makes you sweat more rather than cooling you down. It causes blood vessels to first narrow and then immediately dilate. For this reason, the ideal bath water temperature ranges between 33 and 37 degrees. You should also make sure to stay in water at the ideal temperature for at least 15 minutes.
STRETCH YOUR BODY
Bathing is not just about soaping up. The stretching exercises you do while bathing will also be extremely beneficial for your body. Because the comfort provided by water softens the joints, your body can stretch very easily. Lying in the bathtub and raising your legs to open and close them is especially ideal for toning the hips. Twisting and stretching in the water also helps firm up your body.
While your body is in the water, your skin loses some of its oils. For this reason, you should not stay in the bath too long, as the skin can lose its firmness.
If your skin turns red and itches after bathing, this means your water contains too much chlorine or is too hard. Hard water dries out and hardens the skin. For this reason, it is beneficial to apply moisturizing creams to your skin after bathing.
If you bathe in water to which you have added scented, colored bath salts, you can also benefit from the salts’ ability to revitalize you and relieve fatigue. A bath made with water containing rosewater and glycerin restores lost moisture to the skin.
When the substances in bath foam come into contact with water, they release carbon gas. This layer of gas disperses in the water and prevents body heat from dissipating. Just as it makes the body sweat and lose weight, it also helps eliminate toxins from the body. Relaxing the nervous system is another property of foam. However, bubble baths also have a drawback: the foam contains an oil-absorbing substance that dries out sensitive skin. You can counter this by using various creams and lotions. The use of seaweed-based lotions in particular is recommended. Since the skin absorbs carbon gas during bathing, do not forget to take deep breaths in and out once you get out of the water!
Since the skin on our face is much more sensitive, you can wash your face with a mineral water that contains salt and therefore has a toning effect. This washing process, which lets you feel the purity of rainwater, will help your skin retain its freshness for a long time.
WATER FOR BEAUTY
It is a fact that our skin contains around 50% water, though this ratio can vary depending on age and gender. In infants, this figure rises to around 80%, while in adult men it is around 60%, and in women around 50%. The amount of water in the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, is twice that of the layer beneath it, and it plays the leading role in giving the skin a radiant, glowing appearance.
Water is not only beneficial for the skin; it has many functions. Above all, the water in the body acts as a “resource” that allows the organism to be flushed out in emergencies. Its basic functions include regulating body temperature and keeping the skin healthy. This is why cosmetologists place such great importance on water.
WEIGHT LOSS AND WATER
When your stomach is full of water, you feel full more quickly. There are also publications suggesting that drinking plenty of water prevents fat from being stored in the body. Often, when we drink too little water and meet this need instead with drinks like soda or cola, we never feel thirsty at all. But the more water we drink, the more thirst we feel.
Experts say people should drink water in proportion to their body weight. Roughly 40 ml of water should be consumed per kilogram of body weight. In other words, a person weighing 70 kg should drink at least 2.5-3 liters of water a day. And if you exercise, you should drink at least 500 ml beforehand, 250 ml during exercise, and 500 ml afterward. It is essential to replace the amount of water lost through sweat.