Water Absorption: Is Drinking Water Enough?

The short answer is: yes. Drinking your recommended “8 glasses a day” can keep an average human body hydrated enough. But then the question becomes: is hydrated enough, enough? And the short answer to that is: no. Our bodies process water differently every single day due to various conditions. So, if you want to make sure your body’s getting the most out of your water intake, keep this blog in mind.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR FAST ABSORPTION?

Drinking on an empty stomach. Make sure you’re drinking water on an empty stomach, especially during and after cardio-intensive exercise. Then, water can pass through your stomach and large intestine to your bloodstream in as little as five minutes. Compared to drinking water during a meal or after a meal, it could take the same amount of water anywhere from 45-120 minutes to absorb! No matter what, all the water you drink won’t be fully absorbed, as some will pass with urine and stool. That’s normal, though, and makes for healthy #1’s and #2’s!

Slow down. It’s been said that you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces (of water, of course!). But don’t just chug it down. Studies have shown that drinking water slowly throughout the day keeps you more hydrated than slurping it down quickly. Besides, you don’t want 90% of that water to be passed through urine. Then, it’s all been for naught.

Salting it up! That’s right, folks. Though sodium is posed as a deviant by many (rightly so if consumed in large amounts), having too little sodium in your body can be just as detrimental. Salt keeps our cells hydrated and helps nutrients travel from our small intestine to the rest of our body. Without proper salt intake, your cells aren’t so good at keeping water. Ergo, they’re not so good at the hydrating. So, if you’re consuming salt with your water (even a little pinch will do), you’re helping your body absorb water more efficiently.

Eating your fiber. Eating fibrous foods is an especially good way to help your body out in absorbing water. Fiber actually helps retain water, especially in the intestines where it’s best used through slow absorption. What’s that mean? Well, instead of just being passed through stool or urine, your body will take its sweet time absorbing the water, keeping you hydrated better and longer.

Get your beauty rest. A 2018 study by Sleep found that individuals who only sleep six hours every night have a greater chance of becoming dehydrated—59% percent higher than those sleeping seven or eight hours! The study claimed that the common symptoms of inadequate sleep, like fatigue, confusion, and morning headaches could be more attributed to dehydration than lack of sleep. To help this? Drink a glass of water before bed if your bladder can handle it. But if you’re prone to midnight potty trips, drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up should help, too.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Your body is a powerful machine, but it needs your help. So, give it the best chance possible to absorb all the goodness from your water! But make sure it’s not just any water. Choosing a better, safer alternative to tap water, like Primo® Water, can ensure that you’re getting high-quality water with every sip. Since Primo undergoes a 5-step Reverse Osmosis (RO) purification process, it rids the water of harmful microorganisms, heavy metals, trace pharmaceuticals and more! Find Primo near you and help give your body an even better fighting chance when it comes to healthy hydration.