Here's Why Water Is Gabrielle Union's Beauty Secret

The actress exemplifies why water does a body good.

Best Actress: Gabrielle Union - Gabrielle Union had viewers on the edge of their seats every week as she tackled the dramas of being a single professional Black woman in Being Mary Jane.(Photo: Derrick Salters/WENN.com)

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Cheers to Your Health - Ever wonder how actress Gabrielle Union appears to be aging backward? “I started drinking a gallon of water a day [in my mid-thirties]. It changed everything from weight maintenance, to hair, skin, nails and digestion,” the Being Mary Jane star says. If that’s not inspiration to reach for some fresh H20, we don’t know what is. Read on for even more health-boosting reasons to drink up. By: Britt Middleton (Photo: Derrick Salters/WENN.com)

Drink Up! - Water makes up about 60 percent of the average adult’s body weight, helping to make sure the brain, muscles and other organs run at their peak. Health experts recommend aiming for about nine cups (2.2 liters) of water each day. (Photo: Bobby Metelus/Getty Images)

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Drink Up! - Water makes up about 60 percent of the average adult’s body weight, helping to make sure the brain, muscles and other organs run at their peak. Health experts recommend aiming for about nine cups (2.2 liters) of water each day. (Photo: Bobby Metelus/Getty Images)

Gabrielle Union - @itsgabrielleu: "Heavy heart, angry soul... we matter. ALL our lives matter. Hear us, feel us, respect us... ALL."  (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)

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Skin Like Silk - You could just get lost in Gab’s glowing, pore-less complexion, no? Water naturally keeps skin hydrated and helps flush out the toxins known to cause dullness and breakouts. (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)

Flawless Face - What wrinkles? At 41 years old, the actress has the skin of a woman half her age. While genetics certainly play a part, dehydration can make the skin appear more dry and wrinkled.  (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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Flawless Face - What wrinkles? At 41 years old, the actress has the skin of a woman half her age. While genetics certainly play a part, dehydration can make the skin appear more dry and wrinkled. (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

Supple Strands - Don’t just depend on products to do the work for you. By keeping your water intake high, you bring essential hydration to your hair and scalp, which helps keep strands soft and supple. Just check out Gabrielle's all-natural, extension-free locks (above, left) and you’ll be a believer, too.  (Photos: Gabrielle Union via Instagram, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Supple Strands - Don’t just depend on products to do the work for you. By keeping your water intake high, you bring essential hydration to your hair and scalp, which helps keep strands soft and supple. Just check out Gabrielle's all-natural, extension-free locks (above, left) and you’ll be a believer, too. (Photos: Gabrielle Union via Instagram, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Ab-Tastic - Bikini season is right around the corner, and nobody does it better than our girl. Along with a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, water helps your body eliminate wastes that can lead to belly bloat and other digestive issues.   (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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Ab-Tastic - Bikini season is right around the corner, and nobody does it better than our girl. Along with a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, water helps your body eliminate wastes that can lead to belly bloat and other digestive issues.  (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

Liquid Motivation - And speaking of fab abs, have you ever noticed the burst of energy you get after a few sips of water during a workout? That’s because a well-hydrated body performs better during activity. Water can even ease those post-workout cramps.  (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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Liquid Motivation - And speaking of fab abs, have you ever noticed the burst of energy you get after a few sips of water during a workout? That’s because a well-hydrated body performs better during activity. Water can even ease those post-workout cramps. (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

Sip Savvy - Tired of battling that 3 p.m. slump every afternoon? There’s a good chance you’re dehydrated. Try gulping some fresh, cool water to reactivate your senses and boost productivity.  (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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Sip Savvy - Tired of battling that 3 p.m. slump every afternoon? There’s a good chance you’re dehydrated. Try gulping some fresh, cool water to reactivate your senses and boost productivity. (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

Gabrielle Union @itsgabrielleu - Tweet: "Sooooo where's everybody goin tonight? Ahem... I can't #Broncos I just hopped off the bandwagon and skinned ma knee"(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Smile Bright - Here’s another benefit worth smiling for: rinsing your mouth with water helps wash away staining residues from red wine, coffee and other foods, keeping your teeth whiter and brighter. It’s no wonder why her smile lights up a room. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET

Bikini-Ready - Looking for an all-natural weight loss solution? Make water your go-to. Combined with a low-calorie diet and exercise, drinking water before meals has been proven to help people lose weight and keep it off longer.  (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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Bikini-Ready - Looking for an all-natural weight loss solution? Make water your go-to. Combined with a low-calorie diet and exercise, drinking water before meals has been proven to help people lose weight and keep it off longer. (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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Fit and Fine - In addition, drinking a glass of water in-between meals helps curb your appetite, so you’re less tempted to binge on unhealthy foods. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Architectural Digest)

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Fit and Fine - In addition, drinking a glass of water in-between meals helps curb your appetite, so you’re less tempted to binge on unhealthy foods. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Architectural Digest)

All Smiles - Feeling a little blue? H20 can help with that. Some studies suggest that dehydration is linked to common crankiness and even depression. So pour yourself a glass and smile, you’re worth it.  (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)

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All Smiles - Feeling a little blue? H20 can help with that. Some studies suggest that dehydration is linked to common crankiness and even depression. So pour yourself a glass and smile, you’re worth it. (Photo: Gabrielle Union via Instagram)