Disclaimer: I don’t have a white coat and a stethoscope but this is a perspective I wish I could tell my younger self.

Anecdote Time/Context

Having spent most of my adult life, “Serving my country” it was not only important to stay in shape but also to ensure that I was keeping my body well-fueled. One of the ways to do this was hydration. You’d often hear phrases like, “Hydrate and change your socks” which was a joke meaning that all problems could be fixed by drinking more water or changing one’s socks to prevent damage to one’s feet from all the moisture that occurs during hiking. 

As with all jokes, there is a small amount of truth in it. Hydration is important not only for the intense physical activity you do in the military but also for a healthy lifestyle in modernity. 

However, adhering to some of the advice on hydration I encountered an inconsistent pattern. Every time before a physical fitness test in college or a test/hike in the “Fleet”(Actual military life) I would try to do my best to have clear or close-to-clear urine the night before. 

These charts was everywhere and used to depict what a “healthy” piss color was. As you see some charts show the upper area of clearness to be good hydration while urine that is fully clear is overhydration. I believe there is still some truth to this but as with most things in western medicine it comes from a myopic view of things saying, “If we focus on just this one thing, all will be at peace.” However, after doing some digging it seems like now there is greater nuance to this. 

I noticed several times throughout my time in the military, that despite having a good standing on some of the charts above I still got cramps which truly pissed me off( Get it!?!?!).

During a run, I would start to cramp and internally I would say, “I did everything right” or  “Why me?!?!? For me, it seems that even semi-clear is overhydration. Or maybe these charts are only a piece of a larger puzzle.

Later when I came to Texas I worked for a concrete coatings company and had the opportunity to work a difficult/complex job in the elements. I started working for this company during the summertime and would spend upwards of 7 hours in the sun. I fell back on the old notion of just pounding down water bottles trying to stay, “Hydrated.” 

Or if you feel thirsty, “It's already too late.”

However, like before there was not only cramping but even lightheadedness. At this point, I started to think, “Maybe there is something wrong with this clear urine/Drink eight glasses a day narrative.” What I really needed was minerals. 

Then I stumbled on Topo Chicos. This is not a paid advertisement and I’m not a Sola Topo Chicoist kinda guy but what I wish to advocate is the importance of mineral water. Where before I was drinking bottles and bottles of water or having to throw in high-sugar drinks like Gatorade, with mineral water bottles I just need to substitute a few here and there and I was good. 

Now, even though I have left that job, if I’m doing outside work for myself or at my church,  I always bring some type of mineral water. If there will be others there I bring a few extras for the boys. 

Now, I try to go off of how I feel vice some chart and if I’m thirsty I make buying/grabbing some type of mineral water the priority instead of something purified. Instead of relying on a chart or a test, let your energy levels and efficiency of thought in combination with that chart decide your health. I’ve witnessed some disturbing trends over the past few years(that have actually been here for decades) where a test is the end all be all of whether you are sick or not. What happened to the days of simply being in tune with your body and aware of the fact that you are not at 100%? Are there tests we’re required to take that provide false positives? 

Critical Hydration Theory

“You are the salt of the Earth” Matthew (5:13)

Salt was very important for the majority of history. Wars were fought over this stuff. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt. Having been in the military and working outside for some time, it's caused me to think about how ancient warriors did it. It’s not like they were carrying around gallons of water. You have that old phrase that says, “That man is worth his salt.” but in the past few decades, salt has become the enemy. It’s funny how multiple things humans have relied on/consumed for millennia is now deemed unhealthy…

I believe this is part(not the whole)of what’s missing from hydration. Our bodies need salt. Our bodies need other electrolytes as well. But when we are drinking gallons of purified water we are essentially washing all of the electrolytes out of our bodies. I didn’t realize this till I got a job working outside. But for most who work in an office, the lack of benefit from drinking loads of purified water may not be as apparent. 

Solutions 

Drinking more mineral water has health benefits one of them is that it contains more magnesium which is good for preventing fatigue and muscle cramps. The amount of water one drinks is not as important as the quality of it. The quality will aid in better health. As one who finds value in the terrain theory of disease model, our health is determined by our lifestyle, diet, and the number of toxins in our environment.  A simple fix is to buy more mineral water, or buy some type of electrolyte tablets. 

My favorite is the Nuuns as most other electrolyte solutions have too much sugar in my opinion. 

Now what I’m not saying is going to your nearby pond and drink straight from it to get your daily amount of minerals…

There are good reasons why we started purifying our water but I’m somewhat concerned as to how much of this was influenced by a germ theory paradigm. 

There are things in our water that I wish to avoid which is why I use some water filtration not so much for drinking but for cooking.

I don’t know much about these but I hear a reverse osmosis filter is the way to go. I just a have small Brita water filter for now. Its probably not the best but it’s better than nothing. But the key is to always do something and not to go overboard. I’m content with the approach I have now and it might change in the future. But there are so many things wrong with the food, water, and the environment we live in a full-time job could be made out of trying to eliminate every toxin.

Do what is in your power and leave the rest. 

Looking Ahead 

I’m not completely throwing out the 8 glasses a day paradigm for now but I’m considering that there are other important factors to hydration for health and performance. Living a healthier lifestyle will cost a little more money but think of it as an investment. A little focus here and now will pay dividends down the road.