The New Generation Of Hydration

It’s a fact that you need water to survive. But do you need fancy bottled water? Here, we turn to science to help distill the truth from the hype about water.

- Lara McGlashan, MFA, CPTR

Your body is made up of about 60 to 70 percent water, and although you could live several weeks without food, you’ll only survive a matter of days without water. This is because water is involved in just about every metabolic and cellular function you have — transporting nutrients and oxygen, lubricating joints and regulating body temperature.

So you can see where dehydration is problematic, and in fact, just a 2 percent drop in water can result in impaired cognitive performance, headaches and fatigue. Dehydration also can affect mood, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, causing irritability, lethargy and even anger. For athletes who often lose 6 to 10 percent of their water weight via sweat, dehydration can alter body temperature control, reduce motivation, and make exercise feel more difficult both mentally and physically.

Beyond its necessity for existence, water is also associated with weight loss and an increase in metabolism. One study found that drinking a half-liter (17 ounces) of water increased metabolism up to 30 percent for 90 minutes following ingestion. Proper hydration also can help maximize performance and reduce the oxidative stress that occurs during high-intensity exercise.

Water, Water Everywhere

Now comes the hard part: Which water should you drink? There are so many kinds available and so many conflicting opinions on what to drink and when that choosing a water has become as complicated as string theory. Here are the deets on some of the trendiest waters available today — what they are, what they aren’t and what they may or may not do — along with some hard research that either backs or benches them.

Tap water