Most women think hydration is simple.

Just drink more water, right? But if that were true, more of us would already feel better, think clearly and look less puffy.

Hydration is about so much more than just how much water you drink. It’s about how well that water is absorbed, how it moves through your body and whether it’s actually calming inflammation or making it worse.

Inflammation and dehydration go hand in hand. One drives the other. When you're inflamed, your cells become less efficient at pulling in the water they need. Your tissues swell, but your cells stay thirsty. That’s why so many women feel bloated and puffy but still have dry skin, joint pain, or brain fog. It’s not about more water, it’s about better hydration.

And just like our other health plates, menopause makes staying hydrated more complicated. Estrogen helps regulate fluid balance in the body. As it declines, your ability to retain water inside the cells decreases. You start to notice things like dry eyes, dry skin, brittle hair, or that awful afternoon crash where your brain just stops cooperating. That’s not just hormones, it’s hydration.

Your cells rely on water to deliver nutrients, carry away waste and keep every single process in your body running smoothly. That includes digestion, hormone production, energy metabolism, and detoxification. Without enough water,........

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