We’ve all heard hundred of times that we should drink eight, 8 oz glasses of water per day to maintain an optimal level of hydration. Yet there is little scientific evidence for this advice and that for most people, more water just means more trips to the bathroom! Not only is this a waste of time, and water, the constant flushing of water through your body can mean a loss of vital minerals as well. 

“Eat your water and you won’t need to count your glasses,” said Howard Murad, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA and founder of Murad Inc. “If you replace at least one glass of water a day with one serving of raw fruits or vegetables, you will be able to stay hydrated significantly longer.”

This is not to say that water is bad for you. It is, in fact, essential for hydration and overall health.  The goal, according to Dr. Murad, is to strategically hydrate so that water is available to your cells throughout the day. Eating foods that are rich in structured water, especially raw fruits and vegetables, will not only help your body hold onto water longer, you’ll get the added boost of important antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients. By sticking to a healthy diet you’ll end up eating most of the water needed each day to stay well hydrated.

Dr. Murad debunk's the 8 glasses of water theory!

What foods does Dr. Murad recommend for eating your water?

Because the body is constantly replacing damaged cells, if we eat key foods and take targeted supplements, we can protect and promote cellular health by keeping the body flooded with cell protecting antioxidants and the building blocks of stronger cell membranes.

Here are some examples of Dr. Murad’s recommended foods that contain high levels of nutrients and structured water, a great source to help you “eat your water:”

Food: Cucumbers

Why eat them? Cucumbers are composed mostly of water – structured water – which will keep you feeling hydrated longer. But, they are nutritious too! Cucumbers are an excellent source of silica, a trace mineral that contributes to the strength of connective tissue, and the cucumber skin is a good source of Vitamins A, C and folic acid.

Food: Pomegranates

Why Eat Them? Pomegranates are a wonderful source of antioxidants, and may be the world’s most prolific source of polyphenols. The unique combination of elements in pomegranates increases the protective abilities of sunscreens (which can help prevent sun damage).

Food: Avocados

Why Eat Them? Avocados contain potassium, monosaturated fats and are very high in fiber. The monosaturated fats in avocados contain oleic acid which has been found to improve fat levels in the body and help control diabetes and cholesterol.

Food: Apricots, Mangos

Why eat them? Apricots and mangos contain high amounts of Vitamin A. Vitamin A normalizes the production and life cycle of skin cells. In skin with acne, there is an overproduction of cells in the stratum corneum which is the outermost layer of the skin and is composed of biologically “dead” cells. These excess dead cells combine with sebum (the skin’s own natural oil) to form comedones – the pore plugs that are the defining element of acne. Taken as a dietary supplement, Vitamin A helps to prevent overproduction of skin cells in the stratum corneum.

Food: Broccoli, Spinach

Why eat them? These green foods are a great source of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) which is a potent fat-and-water-soluble antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Did you know?

When you cook vegetables, you may be missing out on some of the benefits and nutritional components that raw foods provide. Try and eat a healthy diet of raw fruits and vegetables to absorb all of the rich nutrients.

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I don’t know about you, but on a cold, rainy day, one of my favorite things to do is  crawl up with a great book, a hot cup of tea, and lose my brain even if just for a little while.  Luckily for me, today Los Angeles happens to be on the chilly and rainy side so I am planning to do just that.

Here If You need Me a new novel from my very good friend Cindy Bokma, editor-in-chief at Hello Dollface will keep you engaged and excited from page one.  Below is an excerpt, but trust me, you’ll want more and for anyone intrigued with Hollywood, celebrities, the night life and anything gossip related, this is a must-have read.

Are you looking for a new book to curl up with and one that will have you excited just to turn the next page?  Well then look no further.  The Book of Lost Fragrances, the newest novel by renowned author M.J.Rose will have you wishing you could transport yourself to Paris.

Did you know that Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, was fascinated by scent?  Some say even obsessed.  Marc Anthony built her a fragrance factory, and the famous queen was said to have kept a recipe book for her perfumes, entitled Cleopatra gynaeciarum libri.  That book has been described in writings by historians Dioscorides, Homer and Pliny the Elder. Unfortunately no known copy of the book exists today, but that missing book stirred international bestseller M.J. Rose’s imagination and became the seed for THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES.

While writing, and to remain in the world of the novel, the author burned incense and her favorite candles;  created by Frederick Bouchardy under the brand name JOYA.  When the novel was finished she searched out Bouchardy to give him a copy of the yet to be published novel.

Bouchardy was instantly intrigued by THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES—first, as a reader, he said he was taken with the mystery and romance of the story.  In Rose’s tale, scent plays a strong role as it pertains to memory. Bouchardy, who creates using oils and other classic ingredients, said this notion spoke to him as a designer and producer of fragrances, and thus the idea to create this beautiful fragrance was born.

The ancient fictional fragrance at the heart of Rose’s novel is called Âmes Sœurs, which means “Soul Mates” in French.  Inspired by the book, Bouchardy has brought the perfume to life with his version: Âmes Sœurs, The Scent of Soul Mates.

Bouchardy interpreted Rose’s imagined fragrance with notes of Frankincense, Myrrh, Orange Blossom, and Jasmine.  He began his work with a master perfumer, experimenting with his library of oils, ultimately creating a smoky incense fragrance with a bright, uncommon finish.  A perfect combination of fragrance, fact and fiction, Rose and Bouchardy have brought both perfume and storytelling to a new place. Rose spins a tale replete with stunning twists and compelling characters that will keep you turning the pages late into the night, and as a unique and talented fragrance designer, Bouchardy has created a scent as complex and compelling as the novel.

A little teaser to pull you in….

“Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as heir to a storied French perfume
company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances—and of her mother’s suicide—she moved to America.  Now, fourteen years later, she and her brother have inherited the company along with its financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing—leaving a dead body in his wake—Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L’Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation—or is it just another dream-infused perfume?”

THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris.  Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.

To receive your complimentary sample of Âmes Sœurs, simply click on any of the links below and  pre-order THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books A Million

Your Favorite Independent Book Store

Âmes Sœurs:  The Scent of Soul Mates is available at joyastudio.com and select retailers worldwide.