September 22, 2025
Beyond 64 Ounces
It’s not about conquering your Stanley Cup one refill at a time—it’s about what those ounces actually do once they’re in you. Hydration is the medium that keeps blood flowing smoothly, carries nutrients where they’re needed, cushions joints, and helps lymph clear waste. In other words, it’s less about the tally of water you drink and more about the work that water performs inside the body.
THE BODY SIGNALS
Dehydration doesn’t always look like thirst. It can show up as headaches, fatigue, stiff joints, even sugar cravings. That’s because water is involved in nearly every cellular process, from cushioning cartilage to carrying digestive enzymes. When the body doesn’t have enough, it has to ration: pulling fluid from tissues, slowing circulation, and prioritizing survival over vitality. The takeaway isn’t just “drink more,” but to notice how many subtle complaints may actually trace back to hydration.
Over time, even mild dehydration can compound, leaving the body in a constant state of catch-up. Blood becomes thicker, circulation less efficient, and detoxification pathways slower. Cells that should be bathed in fluid are left undernourished, which can affect everything from skin elasticity to mental clarity.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, hydration is tied to the balance of yin and yang fluids, and acupuncture can help regulate the systems that determine how water moves through the body. Functional medicine takes a similar lens, looking at mineral balance, hormone signaling, and gut health to uncover why hydration isn’t holding. In both approaches, the goal is the same: restoring flow so the body can thrive instead of ration.
BOOK —> Acupuncture + Functional Medicine
BOOK —> Acupuncture + Functional Medicine
HELPING WATER DO IT’S JOB
Water on its own doesn’t guarantee hydration—it needs support to move where it’s needed and stay there. Minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium act as gatekeepers, helping water enter cells. This is why adding back trace minerals lost through stress or sweat matters. The foods we choose matter too: bone broth carries electrolytes in a form the body can readily use, while water-rich fruits and vegetables cool and hydrate in ways plain water can’t always match. As the season turns, this cooling effect becomes especially important—fall’s lingering warmth can leave the body parched even as the air feels crisp. Innovations like molecular hydrogen, studied for its antioxidant potential, add another layer of protection, helping hydration shield against inflammation. In every season, but especially during transition, hydration is less about volume and more about how fluid is absorbed, circulated, and put to work.
TOOLS FOR HYDRATION
Better Broths & Healing Tonics by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
Quinton Hypertonic Seawater Electrolytes
Molecular Hydrogen Dietary Supplement
Healthy Glow Cellular Repair