‘Loaded’ water is hyped as a secret to hydration. But adding electrolytes is merely time down the drain | Antiviral

The average person does not need to be adding electrolytes to their water Read more in the Antiviral series Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Attitudes towards hydration have become another fault line in the generational divide: while the giant “emotional support” water bottle is ubiquitous among gen Z, those of writer Ian McEwan’s vintage find the modern obsession with hydration “deranged”. McEwan and his ilk will be even more perplexed then that even those guzzling from their Stanley Cups throughout the day are being told they are still not sufficiently hydrating themselves. Influencers are telling their followers they “don’t understand what hydration is” if they’re not adding electrolytes such as sodium and chloride (salt) as well as magnesium and potassium to their water to help their cells “hold on to and use” it. Often spruiking the sachets wellness companies are selling, they claim these fancy salt formulations are essential to avoid migraines and muscle cramps, anxiety and mood swings. Some TikTokers are adding these sachets alongside other ingredients such as coloured ice cubes, edible glitter and fruit into the aforementioned massive cup in a trend known as “loaded water”. Continue reading...

By Natasha May