You know how we've all been told to "drink 8 glasses of water a day"?
That 1945 recommendation INCLUDED water from food. Somehow that part got dropped over the years. 🤯
Here's the Truth
About 20-30% of your daily hydration comes from what you eat:
- Cucumbers, celery, lettuce (95%+ water)
- Watermelon, berries (90%+ water)
- Bone broth, soups, cooked vegetables
So if your goal is 75 oz total:
- You need ~50-60 oz from drinking
- The other 15-25 oz comes from food
Why I love this: The most hydrating foods are ALSO gut-healing foods. You're not just drinking water. You're nourishing your gut at the same time.
Way more sustainable than forcing gallon jugs all day. 😅
What TYPE of Water Matters
🥇 Best: Filtered tap water or spring water
- Removes chlorine (which disrupts gut bacteria)
- Keeps beneficial minerals
- Even a simple Brita filter works (but Berkey is the gold standard if you can afford it)
If you have reverse osmosis or distilled water:
These remove EVERYTHING—including minerals your body needs. The WHO warns against drinking demineralized water long-term.
The fix: Add minerals back
The Morning Gut-Prep Ritual
Here's a daily practice I'm building into the Gut Reset challenge:
16 oz warm water + juice of 1/2 lemon + pinch of sea salt or ConcenTrace minerals
Drink this first thing in the morning, 15-30 minutes before eating.
Why this works for gut health:
- Lemon stimulates bile production (helps digest fats)
- Salt provides electrolytes after overnight fasting
- Warm water helps trigger bowel movements
- Prepares stomach to produce digestive acid
Important: This is a MORNING ritual, not something you need to do with every glass all day.
But wait - what About Alkaline Water?
Hot take: Save your money.
Your stomach is SUPPOSED to be acidic (pH 1.5-3.5). That's how you break down food and kill harmful bacteria.
Drinking alkaline water just gets neutralized by your stomach acid anyway. 🤷♀️
Your Turn 👇
What's your water setup? Tap? Filtered? RO? Do you add minerals?
Drop a comment—I'd love to know if this changes how you think about hydration!