Autumn has officially arrived. As the season changes the hours of daylight decrease and the temperature drops. So cold you can see your breath in that fresh morning air? That’s the moisture in your breath hitting the cold air. It doesn’t occur in warmer weather as warm air holds more moisture. For the adventurous among you, please keep in mind that dehydration accelerates when you’re hiking in cold weather, especially at higher altitudes. In these conditions, the air you breathe is drier and your lungs have to work harder to warm it up. Your body is constantly losing hydration during cooler temperatures, the colder the temperature the more moisture you will lose.

It’s common for the body to feel dehydrated as we move from Summer into Autumn. Here are a few signs your body could be dehydrated…

• Cracked lips and dry skin

• Increased thirst

• Decreased urine output and/or amber coloured urine

• Dizziness, fainting or feeling light-headed

• Muscles cramps

• Headaches

• Dry (sticky) mouth

As we make this transition into the cooler months it’s still important to stay hydrated by keeping your fluids up. It’s easy to remember to drink water on a hot day but we need just as much (sometimes more) to drink in the cooler seasons. Opt for warm or room temperature drinks over the ice-cold as these are better at keeping your internal temperature optimal.

Consuming water-rich foods will help increase your hydration too. Foods such as orange, grapefruit, celery, peaches, lettuce, zucchini, and tomatoes, are a great way to sneak more water into your daily diet. Get into the soup! Pumpkin, potatoes, beetroot, turnip, radish, carrots, kumara, kale, swiss chard and spinach are all in season right now and make fantastic ingredients for a wholesome, warm and hydrating soup. Most of these vegetables are available at the farmer’s markets too, making this an affordable, low waste option, that supports your local growers. For extra hydration and that creamy flavour, try adding some coconut milk to your soups.

Dehydration and that cold dry air can make your lips crack and leave your skin feeling dry and itchy. Our skin is our biggest organ. What we absorb through our skin goes into our body so it’s important we are reading those ingredients lists on our beauty products as well as when we’re grocery shopping!

Regularly applying a good quality moisturizer after you get out of the shower will help keep your skin smooth, healthy and hydrated. This season my go-to post-shower moisturiser is the lavender moisturising bar by Back to the Wild. It’s made from a super nourishing blend of natural oils cacao butter, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, vitamin e and lavender oil. It’s an intensely hydrating moisturising bar that smells amazing and lasts all day. To avoid those cracked lips that the Autumn air can bring, I have been using Kanuka Lip Repair by Back to the Wild. It’s made from a blend of wild-harvested kanuka infused olive oil, coconut oil, New Zealand beeswax, marshmallow extract and vitamin e. It keeps my lips feeling luscious even with those harsh cool winds. I will definitely be keeping this little gem handy over the coming season!

All of Back to the Wild’s products are sourced from natural earth ingredients that are either organically homegrown or foraged in the wild in Canterbury, New Zealand. The other (imported) ingredients are organic where possible. Back to the Wild products come delivered to your door in sustainable packaging, making them friendly on your skin as well as to the environment.

Want to keep your skin hydrated with Back to the Wild products this season too? Click here to shop Back to the Wild.

Learn which healthy habits and foods to include in your diet to build and support your immune system. Naturally Strong is a free E-Book that also includes recipes to help you become healthy and strong, the natural way. For your copy follow the link and sign up for the mailing list.