Hydration: The Missing Link in Energy + Focus

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For years I thought I was great at hydration.

I carried my big water bottle everywhere, refilling that baby like I was winning at adulting — and then spent half my day running to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, my skin looked dull and at some times sallow, my energy crashed mid-afternoon, and I was living in a fog thick enough to qualify as weather.

Here’s what I eventually learned the hard way:

You can drink plenty of water and still be dehydrated.

Because hydration isn’t just about drinking water — it’s about helping your body absorb and hold onto it.

The Real Reason You’re Still Dehydrated

If your body doesn’t have enough minerals, all that water just passes through.

Think of minerals as the “door keys” that help water move into your cells and stay there. Without them, your body’s basically shrugging at all your effort.

And here’s where we often make it worse:

Drinking too much plain water without replacing minerals can actually dilute electrolytes — leaving you more dehydrated, not less.

The key is clean water, mineral balance, and moderation.

Step 1: Clean Up Your Water

If your tap water smells like a swimming pool, it’s because it’s treated like one — with chlorine, fluoride, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and sometimes even pharmaceutical residues.

Those compounds can burden your detox pathways and your thyroid (hello, halogens), so filtering them out is a simple first step in foundational wellness.

👉 My pick: AquaTru Reverse Osmosis System — it removes toxins but leaves water tasting crisp and clean, not flat or metallic.

If reverse osmosis isn’t in the budget, use what you can — even a carbon filter or countertop ZeroWater is better than nothing. (But not a Brita, please.) The goal is simply cleaner water, consistently.

Step 2: Add Minerals & Electrolytes

Minerals are the magic piece most people miss. They’re what make hydration work.

👉 Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte — my go-to for adrenal support and post-workout recovery. I keep packets in my car, my bag, and occasionally my bra (don’t judge).

👉 Needed Hydration Support — gentle and family-friendly. My kids love it, and it’s not full of the junky dyes or sweeteners found in most electrolyte mixes.

👉 Quicksilver Quinton Isotonic & Hypertonic — structured seawater minerals that replenish trace elements your body actually recognizes.

If you’re the DIY type, a pinch of unrefined sea salt and a squeeze of lemon in your water can also do wonders.

Step 3: Don’t Overdo It

More isn’t always better.

You can actually overhydrate — especially if you’re chugging plain water without food or minerals. Signs include dizziness, bloating, fatigue, or needing to pee every 20 minutes.

Aim to sip consistently throughout the day instead of downing a quart at once.

Pair your water with meals or minerals so your body can actually hold onto it.

Why This Matters

When your hydration is balanced, everything works better:

  • Digestion runs smoothly.
  • Blood sugar stabilizes.
  • Skin looks more supple and balanced
  • Energy and focus come back online.
  • And even your stress response calms down (because your adrenals finally have the minerals they need).

Hydration is the foundation under all your other habits — food, sleep, movement, stress.

Without it, everything else is harder.

My Hydration Routine

Here’s what my day usually looks like:

  • 1 glass of filtered water with minerals when I wake up.
  • Electrolyte drink mid-morning if I’ve had coffee (because caffeine is a sneaky dehydrator – and who am I kidding I’ve almost always had coffee).
  • Hydrating foods with lunch — cucumbers, citrus, greens, broth.
  • A little Quinton in the afternoon when I start fading.
  • Tea or mineral water with dinner.

Simple. Repeatable. Realistic.

Hydration isn’t glamorous — most folks aren’t bragging about their mineral intake on Instagram — but it’s foundational.

Get this right, and your body starts working the way it’s designed to: energized, focused, resilient, and actually alive.

So here’s your gentle nudge:

Drink up — but make it count.

Brenna May, NTP

Holistic Nutritional Therapy Practitioner | Functional Wellness

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This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.

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