“Sexy water” is the latest health trend to arise from social media. TikTok creator Kelly Grace Mae recorded a video of how she begins her day by drinking a glass of water full of good-for-you ingredients, and “sexy water” was born. But what exactly is it, and is there any legitimacy behind it?
The concept of sexy water is actually quite simple—it involves adding various functional ingredients, such as electrolytes, herbs, adaptogens, collagen, or fruit, to ice water to make it more appealing in color and taste.
To better understand this rising hydration trend, let’s take a step back to look at the landscape of hydration in the US. 75% of people are chronically dehydrated, and because the brain mostly consists of water, proper hydration is essential for mental stamina, focus, and memory. In fact, dehydration can actually shrink the brain, with dehydration symptoms including brain fog and fatigue. Drinking enough water is vital to health, but is the sexy water trend the key to achieving optimal hydration?
In this article, we’ll explore the sexy water craze, its origins, and whether it truly promotes health. We’ll also discuss important considerations and how you can concoct your own simple sexy water recipes at home.
What is "Sexy Water"?
Sexy water is enhanced water full of various wellness powders and natural ingredients. If you’re wondering how to stay hydrated without drinking plain water, sexy water might just be the perfect solution. It’s a way to transform plain water into a supercharged tonic of sorts by adding beneficial ingredients. This trend is growing in popularity on social media, where people experiment with adding their own unique blends of herbs, powders, and fruit slices to their water.
The concept of sexy water revolves around making hydration more enjoyable and novel. It’s a way to turn the act of drinking water into something to look forward to due to the added benefits and flavors of the ingredients being incorporated.
Despite its name, the composition of sexy water is straightforward: water, ice, and functional ingredients that contribute to your particular health goals. Whether you’re seeking improved digestion, glowing skin, or improved regularity, there are endless sexy water recipes that cater to a variety of health goals. You’ve likely made sexy water without even knowing it— it’s just a new name for the act of making water consumption more convenient and customizable.
Is Sexy Water Good for You?
In theory, yes. Sexy water can be an easy way to rehydrate fast and replenish electrolytes and essential minerals. Given the fact that 90% of the US has a mineral imbalance or deficiency, and today’s food so often comes from depleted soil, it’s hard to replenish using food alone — making sexy water a convenient option. Research studies have found US adults are failing to meet dietary Magnesium and Potassium requirements, both of which play important roles in the body. Magnesium supports over 300 functions in the body and helps nerves, muscles, and the immune system, while Potassium is a necessary mineral and electrolyte that allows the body to carry out its day-to-day cellular functions.
While many factors can deplete these necessary nutrients (like exercise, hot weather, illness, or hangovers), it's important to find a balance because you can overdo it. Excess supplementation isn't always necessary and may lead to unwanted health effects. The typical ingredients in sexy water, namely electrolytes, are good for general health and can make it easier for individuals to get adequate levels of electrolytes and water throughout the day. However, moderation and consideration of personal health needs are important in ensuring you don’t consume too much and risk adverse effects.
Considerations Before Drinking Sexy Water
Before making and drinking your own sexy water concoction, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Given that sexy water often includes various supplement powders, it's crucial to ensure you're not overdoing it or using the wrong blend for your needs.
Here's what to think about before making your own functional beverages at home:
- Exercise Intensity: Consider your activity level. If you are engaging in exercise at a level that induces sweating, replenishing electrolytes and fluids through hydration will be important. Whether you're prone to sweating or planning for extended workouts, considering exercise intensity can help gauge your hydration needs.
- Heat Exposure: Think about the day ahead! On hot days, increased sweating leads to electrolyte loss, which is why it’s important to replenish vital electrolytes in order to support your body in these environments.
- Medication and Supplement Interactions: Be mindful of ingredient overload. There’s no need to overwhelm your water with too many add-ins, especially if you are already consuming other medications and supplements. Overconsumption of supplements can compromise the immune system, while certain medications may interact with particular electrolytes. For instance, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, and diuretics can all interact with Magnesium, while ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta blockers, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can interact with Potassium.
- Preexisting Health Conditions: Consider your present health status. Individuals with kidney disease or hyperkalemia should avoid Potassium-containing electrolytes, and individuals who take medications to manage health conditions should talk with their doctor to ensure any supplement powders, like electrolytes, align with their health status and wellness goals.
When it comes to sexy water and the ingredients you choose to put in it, there are a few things to consider. If needed, have a chat with your health provider to find out what hydration supplement powders can best support you.
How to Make Your Own Sexy Water
When creating your own functional beverages, there’s no need to overcomplicate it! Keep your sexy water recipe simple with these ingredients:
- Filtered water
- Ice: Add ice to your preference
- Electrolyte Powder: Find an electrolyte drink powder with no sugar and no fillers to replenish essential minerals lost throughout the day. Simply add electrolytes to your water for extra hydration support.
- Fruit or Herbs: Feel free to experiment with natural flavors like muddled lemon, strawberries, cucumber, or mint.
- Health-Supportive Supplement Powders: Customize your sexy water to your health goals by adding additional supplement powders — like vegan Collagen or adaptogens. Remember to follow recommended dosage guidelines and avoid excessive add-ins for simplicity's sake!
Enhance Your Water with Mini Dew
Mini Dew™ is a 2-in-1 powder supplement with electrolytes + trace minerals for hydration and brain function. It’s a microplastic-free pink salt electrolyte that’s simple to add when creating your own sexy water. With Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Calcium, Ionic Trace Minerals, and Himalayan Pink Salt, Mini Dew™ works to maintain optimal hydration levels by balancing water distribution in and around cells. This blend not only aids in hydration but promotes mineralization for sustained energy and supports brain health by reducing brain fog. Plus, it contributes to hormonal balance by helping to alleviate PMS cramping. It also has zero sugar and no fillers.
To make your own homemade electrolyte drink, mix 1 teaspoon of this electrolyte powder in 12 ounces of water. Whether you're hitting the sauna, exercising, traveling, or just in need of a pick-me-up, Mini Dew™ makes the best electrolyte drink for optimal hydration and wellness support.
Takeaways
Ultimately, the concept of “sexy water” revolves around a social media trend focused on enhancing hydration by making the act of drinking water enjoyable and aligned with personal health goals.
Now that you know the benefits of sexy water for general health and have reviewed the necessary ingredients to concoct your own simple version at home — you can confidently make your own! The next time you create your own version, take into account exercise level, heat exposure, medications and supplements, and preexisting health conditions. While the term 'sexy water' may be a fleeting trend, the need to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes and minerals for health will always remain essential.
Sources
- National Library of Medicine, Rising Trend of Hypokalemia Prevalence in the US Population and Possible Food Causes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32401639/
- National Library of Medicine, Challenges in the Diagnosis of Magnesium Status. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163803/
- Medline Plus, Magnesium in diet. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002423.htm
- Medline Plus, Potassium in diet. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002413.htm
- Cleveland Clinic. Are Electrolyte-Loaded Sports Drinks Healthy. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/electrolyte-drinks-beneficial-or-not
- National Library of Medicine. Development of hydration strategies to optimize performance for athletes in high-intensity sports and in sports with repeated intense efforts. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20840563/
- National Library of Medicine. The Role of Minerals in the Optimal Functioning of the Immune System. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8840645/
- Mount Sinai. Magnesium. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/magnesium
- Mount Sinai. Potassium. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/potassium