What you need to know about H3O2
Exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and sleeping well—all those components of a healthy, high-performance lifestyle may be undercut if you’re not properly hydrated, say Dana Cohen, MD, and Gina Bria, authors of the newly-released book Quench.
And chances are you’re not at optimal hydration levels: according to recent research cited in the book, up to 75 percent of Americans are dehydrated, a condition that can show up as fatigue, irritability, and lack of focus. Chronic, low-grade dehydration may also contribute to more serious conditions, from decreased immunity and joint pain to Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Moreover, a University of Arkansas study suggests that even very mild dehydration—a loss of as little as two percent of your body weight—can affect blood vessels in the same way that smoking a cigarette does.
On the upside, proper hydration can reap all sorts of benefits, including soaring energy levels, better cognitive function, improved sleep, more radiant and younger-looking skin, and more.
Instead of reaching for another glass of water, Cohen, an integrative physician with a Manhattan medical practice and Bria, an anthropologist with a background researching indigenous desert tribes and founder of the Hydration Foundation, argue that there’s a better way to hydrate. Here, the authors discuss their best tips based on the latest science on water, and the surprising role movement plays in hydration.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and concision.