We’ve all heard the phrase “drink more water.”
But if you’re drinking plain bottled or tap water all day, you might actually be making yourself more dehydrated.
This condition is known as hyponatremia (when water intake outpaces your electrolyte balance). It happens by diluting your body’s sodium levels and leaves you feeling bloated, foggy, and light-headed.
Plain Water ≠ Hydration
Most bottled or tap water is what many experts call “dead water.” It’s missing the essential minerals (sodium, potassium, and magnesium) that your body needs to function.
Here’s what’s really happening:
- Inside your cells: there are minerals (electrolytes)
- Outside your cells: there’s water
When you flood your body with plain water, your system must balance the concentration difference by flushing minerals out. This is why your urine runs clear — your body is literally getting rid of the excess water because it can’t use it.
The result? You’re still dehydrated at the cellular level, even if you’re constantly drinking.
The Symptoms of Overhydration
If you’ve ever felt bloated, foggy, or light-headed after drinking lots of water, it’s not in your head — it’s your chemistry.
Your brain and muscles rely on sodium and potassium to fire electrical signals. When you dilute those electrolytes, neurons and muscle fibers misfire, slowing both mental and physical performance.
Hydration isn’t about volume (it’s about balance).
Your Body Runs on Salt Water
Your body isn’t pure water — it’s salt water.
Every nerve impulse, heartbeat, and muscle contraction depends on the right ratio of electrolytes in your blood and cells.
Without enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium:
- Your brain becomes sluggish
- Your muscles lose strength
- Your energy drops
How to Hydrate the Right Way
- Filter your water using a reverse osmosis system or high-quality filter to remove chlorine and contaminants.
- Add minerals back in — a pinch of sea salt or a scoop of DRGN SALT turns “dead” water into living hydration.
- Hydrate early and strategically — drink in the morning, between meals, and around workouts or sauna sessions.
- Avoid overdrinking during meals — too much water while eating can dilute stomach acid and slow digestion.
Dead Water vs. Mineralized Water
Most people don’t realize there’s a big difference between plain water and mineralized water.
Dead water (like standard bottled or tap water) has been stripped of its natural minerals. It hydrates poorly because it dilutes your blood’s electrolyte balance, flushing out sodium and leaving you bloated, foggy, and fatigued.
Mineralized water, on the other hand, contains electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium — the elements your cells actually need to absorb and hold onto fluid. When you add a pinch of sea salt or a scoop of DRGN SALT to filtered water, it transforms into what your body recognizes as true hydration.
The difference is clear: dead water passes through you, while mineralized water fuels your brain, muscles, and energy at the cellular level.
The Bottom Line
Hydration isn’t just about how much water you drink — it’s about how well your body can use that water.
Without electrolytes, plain water can actually dehydrate you at the cellular level.
True hydration comes from mineral balance, not endless refills.
Your body isn’t just water. It’s salt water.
