October 17, 2025 • 22 mins
Most people think hydration is just about drinking more water, but real hydration goes much deeper.
In this episode of Mindful Objective, we explore how minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and trace elements determine how well your body actually absorbs and uses water. Without them, you can drink all day and still feel tired, foggy, or drained.
We’ll break down what electrolytes really do, how stress and lifestyle habits deplete them, and why fatigue, brain fog, and poor focus are often early signs of imbalance. You’ll learn how over-filtered water, processed foods, and chronic stress create a modern-day hydration problem and how to correct it naturally.
This episode also dives into the link between mineral balance, energy production, and cognitive clarity, offering practical hydration strategies that truly work. From functional lab testing such as HTMA and OAT to targeted supplement plans, you’ll discover how to restore hydration from the inside out.
📍If this episode gave you a new way to think about your health—or sparked a question you’ve been holding onto—pass it along to a friend or family member who might benefit. For ongoing insights, resources, and ways to connect, follow along on social media @mindfulobjective.
Integrative Health: https://mindfulobjective.com
Discount Supplements and Healthcare Products: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/mindfulobjective/store-start
Common Self-Order Protocols: https://mindfulobjective.com/shop/protocols
Free Resources: https://mindfulobjective.com/resources
📍Have a question for the show? Submit it here: https://mindfulobjective.com/podcasts
📝 Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult a healthcare professional before making dietary changes. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to this disclaimer.
Remember, healing is a journey. Progress often comes from small daily wins, steady steps, and asking better questions. Consider this episode a reminder that you already hold more influence over your health than you may realize.
Stay mindful. Stay well.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Mindful Objective, that show where we
explore health through integrative and practical lens.
I'm your host, doctor Daniel Sproule, integrative health
practitioner and professor. Today we're talking about
something that sounds simple butgoes far deeper than most people
realize. That is hydration and mineral
balance. Most people think that hydration
is only about drinking enough water, but the truth is, water
(00:20):
alone doesn't keep you hydrated.Your body depends on minerals
like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and even trace
elements to actually absorb and use water at that cellular
level. Without them, water just passes
through your body, leaving you feel tired, foggy, and even
dizzy, even if you're drinking all day long.
In this episode, we'll look at what real hydration means, how
(00:41):
mineral imbalances can lead to fatigue and brain fog, and why
your body's electrical balance is key to focus and energy.
As always, this shows for educational purposes only.
We do not diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease, so
let's go ahead and get into it. Most of us heard that the key to
good health is simple. Drink more water.
(01:01):
Hydration is not just about pouring water into the body,
which a lot of people confuse. It's about how your body uses
that water. You can drink a gallon of water
a day and still be dehydrated ifyour minerals are out of
balance. Think of your body like a
garden. If the soil is dry and lacks
nutrients, the water you pour inwon't stick around, it'll just
run off. Your cells behave really in that
(01:23):
same way when they don't have minerals needed to retain
moisture. Those minerals, again, are
sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium chloride.
These are called electrolytes because they carry a electrical
charge that allows water to movein and out of your cells, fuels
muscle contractions, and what else does it do?
It supports your heartbeat and it keeps your nerves firing
(01:43):
correctly. Again, electric.
So without electrolytes, water can't stay where it's needed.
You might feel bloated after drinking too much plain water or
constantly need to use the restroom.
You may notice dry skin, fatigue, even headaches even
though you hydrate. This is called false hydration.
Plenty of water with but very little absorption.
Now let's look at modern lifestyle.
(02:05):
We filter our water to remove contaminants, which is
important, but the same process removes essential minerals.
We eat processed foods that are low in potassium, magnesium.
We live under chronic stress andwhen you live under chronic
stress, it drains sodium throughyour adrenal glands.
We exercise indoors in temperatures controlled
environments, but sweat out electrolytes when we do move.
(02:26):
It's easy to see why that mineral depletion has become so
common, especially for those that are, you know, do a lot of
sweating or actually do sauna therapy.
So one of the first signs, oftenit goes unnoticed, is feeling
tired after lunch, dizziness when standing up quickly, tight
calves at night, or lips that never seem to stay moisturized.
Over time, these mild signals turn into real symptoms, brain
(02:47):
fog, heart palpitations, muscle spasm, or overwhelming fatigue
that no amount of coffee can fix.
So what do we do? Mindful Objective.
We teach you that hydration is an electrical process, not a
mechanical one. Your body is a network of
currents. Each nerve signal, heartbeat,
and muscle movement depends on that steady exchange of those
charged minerals. When the current weakens, the
(03:07):
entire system slows down. That's why we use the HDMA here,
tissue mineral analysis to look beneath the surface.
A blood test only shows what's circulating right now.
Here reveals how well your body is storing and losing minerals
over several months. It tells us if your sodium and
potassium ratio shows adrenal fatigue or if your calcium and
magnesium are out of sync, affecting muscle tension and
(03:29):
your mood. Once we have that picture,
rebalancing becomes straightforward.
For some, it starts with adding trace mineral drops to filtered
or distilled water. That might mean adjusting their
diet, and you could do this by including more avocados, sea
salt, leafy greens and even seeds, or supplementing with
magnesium glycinate or balanced electrical powder.
You know, there's multiple products out there that are
(03:50):
really good, but remember, thesesmall steps change how your body
absorbs and uses water. So you got to get that hydration
levels up. Clients are often surprised at
how quickly they notice a difference.
Their skin feels smoother, theirenergy level stabilize, and
being thirsty all the time kind of subsides.
It isn't magic, it's Physiology.When the right minerals are in
place, water can finally stay inside those cells instead of
(04:11):
rushing through. We also remind clients that
hydration connects to everythingelse.
Digestion, detoxification, metabolism, even your mood.
Your body uses water to move nutrients, remove toxins, and
cools itself. None of that happens efficiently
if your body's missing electrolytes.
So if you find yourself drinkingwater all day but still feeling
tired, foggy, or thirsty, don't assume more water is the answer.
(04:33):
The problem might be what you'remissing in that water.
Balancing minerals is the foundation of true hydration.
Now let's talk about the fatigueconnection here.
Fatigue is one of those symptomsthat almost everyone
experiences, yet most people don't realize how deeply it ties
to hydration and that mineral balance.
It's easy to blame lack of sleep, stress, or caffeine
withdrawal, but if your electrolytes are off, your cells
(04:56):
can't make or use the energy effectively.
Let's break this down to be moresimple.
Every single cell in your body produces energy in the form of
ATPATP is like your body's electricity.
It powers everything from musclemovement to brain activity.
The process of creating ATP happens inside mitochondria,
which is those tiny powerhouses of your cells.
For those mitochondria function,they rely on certain minerals.
(05:19):
Again, magnesium, odium, otassium, calcium, phosphorus.
Here's the catch. ATP can't do anything without
magnesium. It's not even active until it
binds with magnesium to form MGATP.
This is the usable version of your body's energy currency.
So if you're low on magnesium, you might produce energy
molecules, but your body can't actually use them efficiently.
(05:42):
It's like trying to turn on the light without plugging the lamp
into the outlet. Now onto sodium and potassium.
They also play essential roles. They regulate the electrical
gradients that move the nutrients in and out of cells.
When you don't have the right ratio to sodium and potassium,
your cells struggle to maintain that charge.
This will lead to sluggish energy, muscle weakness, and
that heavy feeling that coffee just cannot fix.
(06:04):
And calcium, right? We hear this one a lot.
Most people think of it as a bone mineral.
Actually. It helps with nerve
transmissions and muscle contractions.
When calcium is in balance, you might notice twitches,
stiffness, and overall sense of tension and body.
Tight trapezius, right? Twitchy Eye Now think about what
happens in real life. You drink filtered water all
day. You skip meals, live under
(06:26):
stress, and drink two or three cups of coffee to stay awake.
Each of those habits deplete minerals.
Coffee acts as a diuretic. It pulls water and electrolytes
out through urine. Stress raises cortisol, which
tells your kidneys to release sodium overtime.
That constant drain leaves your cells unable to hold on to water
or generate that energy efficiently.
What's the result? You feel tired even when you're
(06:47):
technically hydrated. You may crave salt, sugar or
caffeine just to get through that day.
Your body wants and is asking for a mineral balance.
So what do we do? Again, a mindful objective.
We focus on a hair tissue mineral analysis test and also
that organic acid test. We want to pinpoint whether
fatigue is due to mineral deficiencies, adrenal stress,
(07:08):
mitochondrial dysfunction. These tests don't just show
numbers, they reveal patterns. They help us understand how
stress, diet and lifestyle have affected your energy system over
time. Once we know that cause
rebuilding is straightforward. Sometimes all it takes is
supporting that foundation, right?
More Whole Foods rich in potassium, avocado, sweet
potatoes, coconut water. Also increasing magnesium
(07:29):
through leafy greens, pumpkin seeds and supplement with
magnesium glycinate, which is good and adding a pinch of sea
salt where you hear a lot in videos nowadays.
Add that in the to restore sodium levels.
For clients under chronic stressor adrenal fatigue.
We may also recommend Adrenal Support formula that includes
adaptogenic herbs and minerals designed to help the body hold
on to the electrolytes. Even better.
(07:50):
All these options are available.Again, we use full script.
You could sign up via website, get 20% off retail.
So remember, when your electrolytes are balanced,
you'll notice energy feels different, smoother, steadier
and natural. You're no longer dependent on
caffeine to function. Morning energy rises gently, not
in that jolt from when you have caffeine.
Your mental clarity could return.
(08:11):
That's because true energy isn'tabout stimulation, it's about
cellular efficiency. Right?
So let's talk about something else that almost everyone
struggles with at some point, and that is brain fog.
That heavy cloudy feeling when you're awake but not fully
alert? You read that same line twice.
Forget simple details. You walk into a room, can't
remember why you went there. That's frustrating, especially
(08:32):
when you're trying to be productive or creative.
And so here's what most people don't realize.
Brain fog is often not just a mental issue, It's a hydration
and mineral issue. Your brain runs on electrical
impulses, right? Every thought, reaction,
movement depends on those tiny electrical signals firing
between neurons. Those signals rely on water and
minerals, specifically sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,
(08:55):
and trace elements like zinc andmanganese.
Right When hydration or mineralsdrop, those signals slow down.
It's like static on a phone line.
Even mild dehydration, as littleas 2% body water loss can impair
focus, short term memory, and decision making.
That's because your brain is roughly 75% water and needs
consistent electrolyte balance to transmit signals efficiently.
(09:16):
Without it, neurons literally struggle to fire.
So step back. Here's how it works.
Sodium and potassium create the charge that allows electrical
impulses to move through neurons.
Magnesium calms over excited nerve cells and supports
neurotransmitter productions. Calcium helps release those
neurotransmitters. These are chemicals your brain
used to communicate. When any of these minerals are
(09:38):
off, focus, clarity, and even mood are affected.
You might notice irritability, forgetfulness, or mental fatigue
even if you slept well. Now add on to that modern life
equation. Constant stress, caffeine,
processed foods, too little rest, high cortisol levels,
which is your stress hormones. They cause your kidneys to
excrete sodium and water over time.
(09:59):
That lowers blood volume and leaves you mildly dehydrated if
you're drinking plenty of water.That's why people who experience
brain fog also deal with adrenalfatigue or anxiety.
The brain and adrenals are connected through mineral
balance. When you're under that chronic
stress, your body burns through magnesium and sodium rather
quickly, which will lead to thatfoggy thinking, poor focus and
(10:21):
irritability. We look at that HTMA and that
organic acid test. We want to understand even on
the side of cortisol. We may do a cortisol test to
understand and see that sodium potassium ratio to see if it's
depleted, which reflects that adrenal performance.
While the cortisol test reveals how your stress hormones behave
throughout the day, we still need to look at the cause of the
(10:43):
actual issue itself. Once we do have that data, we
create that personalized plan torestore clarity.
So it may include magnesium glycinate, right?
We talked about that one trace mineral drops, right?
You would add that through your water throughout the day.
Zinc and B vitamins, we always harp on those.
So we use those to improve neurotransmitter production and
a balanced hydration routine that includes both water and
(11:05):
electrolytes rather than water alone.
We see so many people, they think they're over hydrating
with a lot of water, but they'renot doing anything.
They're causing more problems than good, dizzy spells,
fogginess, headaches, and they're drinking a lot of water.
So there's a key to it. We also teach clients to
minimize mineral thieves, right?These include alcohol, refined
sugar, too much caffeine, all which increase mineral
(11:27):
excretion, even carbonated drinks.
Certain medications can deplete magnesium and potassium over
time. One simple practice we recommend
is starting your morning with what we call adrenal water.
Just a glass of warm water, squeeze a lemon and pinch of sea
salt. This combination gently wakes
your system, helps absorb water and replenish a sodium after a
night of fasting. Another key factor is timing.
(11:49):
The brain depends on steady hydration throughout the day,
not large doses all at once. Instead of chugging water
occasionally, sip slowly every 30 to 60 minutes.
You're supposed to do this with protein shakes too.
I know it's hard for a lot of people.
I don't like doing it, you know,having a protein shakes for 30
minutes. But a lot of times, you know, I
have a protein shake and I knockit out in 2 minutes.
But you're supposed to, you know, sip it over a course of 30
(12:12):
to 60 minutes. The reason for this?
On the water side, it keeps yourneurons firing smoothly and
helps prevent that mid afternoonmental crash.
The results are often fast. Within days of restoring
minerals and adjusting hydration, clients report clear
thinking focus, better mood and less reliance on caffeine.
It's one of those foundational shifts that feels almost too
simple to work. Yet it does.
(12:35):
Because here's the truth. Your brain isn't running low on
motivation, it's running low on charge.
Think of your cell phone when you have hydration, minerals,
and stress balance. When they're all In Sync, you
stop fighting your brain to function.
It just performs. If you're struggling with brain
fog, poor concentration, or constant drain feeling, we help
you pinpoint that cause. Visit mindfulobjective.com to
learn more. And clear thinking doesn't come
(12:56):
by pushing harder. It comes from supporting your
body's internal balance. When you give your brain the
minerals and hydration it needs,clarity follows naturally.
Now let's focus on how to do it right in your daily life.
This is where science meets the practical side most hydration
advice stops at. Drink 8 glasses of water a day.
It's simple, but it's very, veryoutdated.
(13:18):
Hydration is not one-size-fits-all because your
body has different needs based on activity, diet, environment,
and stress levels. Again, everybody's
individualized. Someone working in an office has
a very different hydration demands than someone exercising
outdoors or dealing with adrenalfatigue or people like Geraldo
that are walking, you know, 1525miles a day.
Let's start with this in the morning.
(13:39):
Most important time to hydrate, right in the morning when you
wake up, your body is gone. Hours without water.
You've been breathing, sweating,and using fluids all night long.
And that's why most people wake up feeling stiff, foggy, or
tired, even after sleeping. But before you reach for that
coffee, start your day with mineralized water.
Here's a simple routine we teachclients at Mindful Objective.
(14:00):
Fill a glass of water at room temperature water.
Add a pinch of sea salt or tracemineral drops.
Squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon.
This combination helps replenishsodium that's lost overnight.
It supports your adrenal functions.
It gives your cells what they need to absorb water.
Think of it as hydration before stimulation.
Coffee later will feel smoother because your system isn't
(14:20):
running on empty, right? Do not just have coffee first
thing in the morning. Start with hydration.
Next, sip that water gradually throughout the day instead of
chugging it all at once. When you drink too much water in
one sitting, your kidneys at that point will start to excrete
it quickly by flushing out all your valued electrolytes, so
you're defeating the whole purpose.
Slow, steady intakes gives your cells time to absorb water and
(14:42):
maintain balance. Aim for about half of your body
weight in ounces of total fluidsdaily, adjusting for exercise
and heat. So that's where we always say
about food tracking or intake tracking.
Liquid tracking. Track to see actually how much
water you are drinking throughout the day.
Timing matters, too. Drinking a glass of water 20 to
30 minutes before meals aids digestion, while drinking large
amounts during meals can dilute stomach acid.
(15:04):
After exercise, replace both water and minerals.
Coconut water is good, electrolyte powders are good,
and lightly salted foods also work well.
Now let's talk about the kind ofwater you drink.
Filtered or bottled water may taste clean, but most modern
purification systems remove those minerals.
Reverse osmosis and distilled water are dead waters.
They're free of contaminants, but also are free of
(15:25):
electrolytes if you rely on them.
It's essential to add trace minerals.
I usually do this in those mineral drops.
Or you can use the high quality electrolyte powders.
Their body health has a good one.
Without them, you'll be hydrating and depleting yourself
at the same time. It's not what you want.
The balance of sodium and potassium is especially
important here. Sodium helps retain water, while
(15:46):
potassium helps move it into thecells.
When these are out of balance, you may retain fluid, experience
swelling, or feel sluggish. Adding foods again, like
avocado, sweet potatoes, orangesand leafy greens help restore
potassium naturally. But you have to eat a lot of
them, so sometimes people have to take those potassium
supplements. Magnesium is another unsung hero
of hydration. It relaxes muscles, improves
(16:08):
energy, and supports other processes in the body.
Many people are deficient because of stress, caffeine and
processed food. They all deplete it.
Drinking extreme amounts of water without replenish
electrolytes can lead to hypo hyponatremia, which is a
dangerous drop in sodium levels.Symptoms include fatigue,
confusion, headaches and severe cases, nausea.
The goal is balance, not excess.Say this all the time, not
(16:31):
excess. People get excessive on stuff.
Take slow, slow your roll as therock would say.
So same thing as you got to slowdown.
Understand and take everything in moderation.
You can also support hydration through food.
Cucumbers, watermelon, celery, strawberries, and romaine
lettuce all are water rich and naturally contain electrolytes.
Soups and broths are excellent way to combine hydration and
(16:54):
minerals, especially during those colder months.
If you sweat heavily, exercise often, or have adrenal stress,
you may need electrolyte supplement daily.
I always recommend personally, you know, for myself and family
is I always say and electrolytes, use electrolytes
daily. We do recommend avoiding sugary
sports drinks instead of using clean options that contain
(17:16):
sodium, potassium, magnesium without those artificial
additives. So what do we do?
We customize hydration strategies here at My Objective
through that lab testing. Focus on rebuilding those sodium
levels and some you have to rebuild potassium, magnesium
balance. You have to understand that the
testing again takes out the guesswork and allows us to
target exactly what your body needs.
(17:37):
The difference between being hydrated and optimally hydrated
shows up fast. Steady your energy, a better
mood, clear skin, improve digestion.
It's not about preventing dehydration, it's about
optimizing performance and your overall health.
So tomorrow morning, skip the rush to cough.
Start with your mineralized water, sip it consistently
throughout the day, and support yourselves, not just your
(17:59):
thirst. When hydration is done right,
it's not a chore. It's a rhythm, one that fuels
clarity, focus and lasting energy all day long.
So we did cover a lot in this episode.
I didn't mean it to be this long.
And finally, when people think of dehydration, they imagine
extreme thirst, dry mouth, or maybe dizziness.
But dehydration can look subtle.It could be low energy, poor
(18:19):
concentration, irritability, or even muscle tension.
These are all signs your body's trying to communicate that it's
not getting the minerals or water it needs to function at
its best. Where do you start?
You start by understanding your baseline.
Most people are guessing when itcomes to hydration and mineral
intake. They try random electrolyte
drinks or supplements hoping something sticks.
(18:39):
But without testing, it's like driving with your dashboard
lights off. You might get somewhere, but you
don't know how efficiently. That's why I'm mindful.
Objective. We've mentioned those tests,
Hair tissue mineral analysis, organic acid test, 2 great
tests. The big one we already talked
about is the HTMA does identify different minerals such as
sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium.
Then we look more in depth at that OAT test.
(19:01):
This is one that really matters.It complements them beautifully.
Between those two tests, it looks at how your body is
actually using those minerals inenergy production,
detoxification, and neurotransmitter balance.
It helps us see if mitochondria function or oxidative stress is
contributing to your fatigue or poor focus.
Together those two tests give the full picture and how
hydration works internally for you specifically.
(19:23):
Once we have those results, we build a plan around food,
supplements and lifestyle. This might again include adding
more magnesium rich foods, spinach, pumpkin seeds, dark
chocolate, increasing potassium through avocado or coconut
water, or balancing sodium through sea salt or mineral rich
broths. For supplementation, we focus
precision and quality. Again 20% off at the website.
(19:46):
Take advantage of our discount. Magnesium glycinate, right, for
muscle relaxation, cellular energy trace mineral drops for
hydration support. And that could be, you know,
powder such as Body Health has agood one.
Adrenal support to strengthen sodium cortisol regulation.
Electrolyte powders such as BodyHealth, especially for those who
exercise and work long hours. You may need more.
(20:07):
And remember, hydration isn't only about what you drink or
take. It's also about your lifestyle.
Stress, poor sleep, overexertiondeplete minerals quickly.
That's why it's part of the approach to address root causes
of imbalance. Managing stress through breath
work, meditation, light movementcan help your body retain
minerals. Prioritizing sleep allows your
(20:28):
kidneys and adrenal glands to reset overnight.
What else do we remind clients to do?
Think about your environmental factors.
Air conditioning or heating systems dry out your body faster
than you think. So can excessive screen time.
Are you on your phone all day? Are you on a computer all day?
Staring at a digital devices lowers your blink rate.
And what else does it do? Increases your water loss
(20:49):
through your eyes, leading to fatigue and headaches that also
mimic dehydration symptoms. Small adjustments like taking
breaks, hydrating regularly, andspending time outdoors.
These will all make a difference.
Hydration supports every function in the body.
It helps regulate temperature, aids digestion, cushion joints,
supports detoxification, and fuels cognitive performance.
Remember that? But when we reduce it and say
(21:11):
drink more water, we missed the real opportunity to bring that
entire system into balance. That's our goal here.
True hydration is about retention, not volume.
It's about making sure every cell in your body has what it
needs to thrive. When your minerals, hydration
lifestyle line, your energy feels effortless, your thoughts
become clearer and you recover faster, and you simply function
(21:32):
better. So if you want to stop guessing
and finally understand your body, visit
mindfulobjective.com. Reach out, have a question?
Send us a question, we'll gladlyanswer it.
Not a big deal. Every client we work with has
that unique mineral fingerprint.Once we uncover yours, we can
help you build a sustainable plan that fits your lifestyle
and your goals. And as we wrap things up here,
(21:52):
remember at the end of the day, hydration isn't a quick fix,
it's the foundation. And when the foundation is
strong, everything else in your health journey becomes easier.
At least now you know what true hydration looks like, why
electrolytes matter, and how testing can reveal what your
body really needs. As always, remember the
information shared here is for educational purposes only and
should never be taken as medicaladvice.
(22:13):
Always consult your qualified healthcare provider before
making any changes to your health plan.
Be sure to reach out via mindfulobjective.com if you have
any questions or you want to look further into testing.
Thanks for listening and until next time, stay mindful, stay
healthy, and stay empowered.
Welcome back to Mindful Objective, that show where we
explore health through integrative and practical lens.
I'm your host, doctor Daniel Sproule, integrative health
practitioner and professor. Today we're talking about
something that sounds simple butgoes far deeper than most people
realize. That is hydration and mineral
balance. Most people think that hydration
is only about drinking enough water, but the truth is, water
(00:20):
alone doesn't keep you hydrated.Your body depends on minerals
like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and even trace
elements to actually absorb and use water at that cellular
level. Without them, water just passes
through your body, leaving you feel tired, foggy, and even
dizzy, even if you're drinking all day long.
In this episode, we'll look at what real hydration means, how
(00:41):
mineral imbalances can lead to fatigue and brain fog, and why
your body's electrical balance is key to focus and energy.
As always, this shows for educational purposes only.
We do not diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease, so
let's go ahead and get into it. Most of us heard that the key to
good health is simple. Drink more water.
(01:01):
Hydration is not just about pouring water into the body,
which a lot of people confuse. It's about how your body uses
that water. You can drink a gallon of water
a day and still be dehydrated ifyour minerals are out of
balance. Think of your body like a
garden. If the soil is dry and lacks
nutrients, the water you pour inwon't stick around, it'll just
run off. Your cells behave really in that
(01:23):
same way when they don't have minerals needed to retain
moisture. Those minerals, again, are
sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium chloride.
These are called electrolytes because they carry a electrical
charge that allows water to movein and out of your cells, fuels
muscle contractions, and what else does it do?
It supports your heartbeat and it keeps your nerves firing
(01:43):
correctly. Again, electric.
So without electrolytes, water can't stay where it's needed.
You might feel bloated after drinking too much plain water or
constantly need to use the restroom.
You may notice dry skin, fatigue, even headaches even
though you hydrate. This is called false hydration.
Plenty of water with but very little absorption.
Now let's look at modern lifestyle.
(02:05):
We filter our water to remove contaminants, which is
important, but the same process removes essential minerals.
We eat processed foods that are low in potassium, magnesium.
We live under chronic stress andwhen you live under chronic
stress, it drains sodium throughyour adrenal glands.
We exercise indoors in temperatures controlled
environments, but sweat out electrolytes when we do move.
(02:26):
It's easy to see why that mineral depletion has become so
common, especially for those that are, you know, do a lot of
sweating or actually do sauna therapy.
So one of the first signs, oftenit goes unnoticed, is feeling
tired after lunch, dizziness when standing up quickly, tight
calves at night, or lips that never seem to stay moisturized.
Over time, these mild signals turn into real symptoms, brain
(02:47):
fog, heart palpitations, muscle spasm, or overwhelming fatigue
that no amount of coffee can fix.
So what do we do? Mindful Objective.
We teach you that hydration is an electrical process, not a
mechanical one. Your body is a network of
currents. Each nerve signal, heartbeat,
and muscle movement depends on that steady exchange of those
charged minerals. When the current weakens, the
(03:07):
entire system slows down. That's why we use the HDMA here,
tissue mineral analysis to look beneath the surface.
A blood test only shows what's circulating right now.
Here reveals how well your body is storing and losing minerals
over several months. It tells us if your sodium and
potassium ratio shows adrenal fatigue or if your calcium and
magnesium are out of sync, affecting muscle tension and
(03:29):
your mood. Once we have that picture,
rebalancing becomes straightforward.
For some, it starts with adding trace mineral drops to filtered
or distilled water. That might mean adjusting their
diet, and you could do this by including more avocados, sea
salt, leafy greens and even seeds, or supplementing with
magnesium glycinate or balanced electrical powder.
You know, there's multiple products out there that are
(03:50):
really good, but remember, thesesmall steps change how your body
absorbs and uses water. So you got to get that hydration
levels up. Clients are often surprised at
how quickly they notice a difference.
Their skin feels smoother, theirenergy level stabilize, and
being thirsty all the time kind of subsides.
It isn't magic, it's Physiology.When the right minerals are in
place, water can finally stay inside those cells instead of
(04:11):
rushing through. We also remind clients that
hydration connects to everythingelse.
Digestion, detoxification, metabolism, even your mood.
Your body uses water to move nutrients, remove toxins, and
cools itself. None of that happens efficiently
if your body's missing electrolytes.
So if you find yourself drinkingwater all day but still feeling
tired, foggy, or thirsty, don't assume more water is the answer.
(04:33):
The problem might be what you'remissing in that water.
Balancing minerals is the foundation of true hydration.
Now let's talk about the fatigueconnection here.
Fatigue is one of those symptomsthat almost everyone
experiences, yet most people don't realize how deeply it ties
to hydration and that mineral balance.
It's easy to blame lack of sleep, stress, or caffeine
withdrawal, but if your electrolytes are off, your cells
(04:56):
can't make or use the energy effectively.
Let's break this down to be moresimple.
Every single cell in your body produces energy in the form of
ATPATP is like your body's electricity.
It powers everything from musclemovement to brain activity.
The process of creating ATP happens inside mitochondria,
which is those tiny powerhouses of your cells.
For those mitochondria function,they rely on certain minerals.
(05:19):
Again, magnesium, odium, otassium, calcium, phosphorus.
Here's the catch. ATP can't do anything without
magnesium. It's not even active until it
binds with magnesium to form MGATP.
This is the usable version of your body's energy currency.
So if you're low on magnesium, you might produce energy
molecules, but your body can't actually use them efficiently.
(05:42):
It's like trying to turn on the light without plugging the lamp
into the outlet. Now onto sodium and potassium.
They also play essential roles. They regulate the electrical
gradients that move the nutrients in and out of cells.
When you don't have the right ratio to sodium and potassium,
your cells struggle to maintain that charge.
This will lead to sluggish energy, muscle weakness, and
that heavy feeling that coffee just cannot fix.
(06:04):
And calcium, right? We hear this one a lot.
Most people think of it as a bone mineral.
Actually. It helps with nerve
transmissions and muscle contractions.
When calcium is in balance, you might notice twitches,
stiffness, and overall sense of tension and body.
Tight trapezius, right? Twitchy Eye Now think about what
happens in real life. You drink filtered water all
day. You skip meals, live under
(06:26):
stress, and drink two or three cups of coffee to stay awake.
Each of those habits deplete minerals.
Coffee acts as a diuretic. It pulls water and electrolytes
out through urine. Stress raises cortisol, which
tells your kidneys to release sodium overtime.
That constant drain leaves your cells unable to hold on to water
or generate that energy efficiently.
What's the result? You feel tired even when you're
(06:47):
technically hydrated. You may crave salt, sugar or
caffeine just to get through that day.
Your body wants and is asking for a mineral balance.
So what do we do? Again, a mindful objective.
We focus on a hair tissue mineral analysis test and also
that organic acid test. We want to pinpoint whether
fatigue is due to mineral deficiencies, adrenal stress,
(07:08):
mitochondrial dysfunction. These tests don't just show
numbers, they reveal patterns. They help us understand how
stress, diet and lifestyle have affected your energy system over
time. Once we know that cause
rebuilding is straightforward. Sometimes all it takes is
supporting that foundation, right?
More Whole Foods rich in potassium, avocado, sweet
potatoes, coconut water. Also increasing magnesium
(07:29):
through leafy greens, pumpkin seeds and supplement with
magnesium glycinate, which is good and adding a pinch of sea
salt where you hear a lot in videos nowadays.
Add that in the to restore sodium levels.
For clients under chronic stressor adrenal fatigue.
We may also recommend Adrenal Support formula that includes
adaptogenic herbs and minerals designed to help the body hold
on to the electrolytes. Even better.
(07:50):
All these options are available.Again, we use full script.
You could sign up via website, get 20% off retail.
So remember, when your electrolytes are balanced,
you'll notice energy feels different, smoother, steadier
and natural. You're no longer dependent on
caffeine to function. Morning energy rises gently, not
in that jolt from when you have caffeine.
Your mental clarity could return.
(08:11):
That's because true energy isn'tabout stimulation, it's about
cellular efficiency. Right?
So let's talk about something else that almost everyone
struggles with at some point, and that is brain fog.
That heavy cloudy feeling when you're awake but not fully
alert? You read that same line twice.
Forget simple details. You walk into a room, can't
remember why you went there. That's frustrating, especially
(08:32):
when you're trying to be productive or creative.
And so here's what most people don't realize.
Brain fog is often not just a mental issue, It's a hydration
and mineral issue. Your brain runs on electrical
impulses, right? Every thought, reaction,
movement depends on those tiny electrical signals firing
between neurons. Those signals rely on water and
minerals, specifically sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,
(08:55):
and trace elements like zinc andmanganese.
Right When hydration or mineralsdrop, those signals slow down.
It's like static on a phone line.
Even mild dehydration, as littleas 2% body water loss can impair
focus, short term memory, and decision making.
That's because your brain is roughly 75% water and needs
consistent electrolyte balance to transmit signals efficiently.
(09:16):
Without it, neurons literally struggle to fire.
So step back. Here's how it works.
Sodium and potassium create the charge that allows electrical
impulses to move through neurons.
Magnesium calms over excited nerve cells and supports
neurotransmitter productions. Calcium helps release those
neurotransmitters. These are chemicals your brain
used to communicate. When any of these minerals are
(09:38):
off, focus, clarity, and even mood are affected.
You might notice irritability, forgetfulness, or mental fatigue
even if you slept well. Now add on to that modern life
equation. Constant stress, caffeine,
processed foods, too little rest, high cortisol levels,
which is your stress hormones. They cause your kidneys to
excrete sodium and water over time.
(09:59):
That lowers blood volume and leaves you mildly dehydrated if
you're drinking plenty of water.That's why people who experience
brain fog also deal with adrenalfatigue or anxiety.
The brain and adrenals are connected through mineral
balance. When you're under that chronic
stress, your body burns through magnesium and sodium rather
quickly, which will lead to thatfoggy thinking, poor focus and
(10:21):
irritability. We look at that HTMA and that
organic acid test. We want to understand even on
the side of cortisol. We may do a cortisol test to
understand and see that sodium potassium ratio to see if it's
depleted, which reflects that adrenal performance.
While the cortisol test reveals how your stress hormones behave
throughout the day, we still need to look at the cause of the
(10:43):
actual issue itself. Once we do have that data, we
create that personalized plan torestore clarity.
So it may include magnesium glycinate, right?
We talked about that one trace mineral drops, right?
You would add that through your water throughout the day.
Zinc and B vitamins, we always harp on those.
So we use those to improve neurotransmitter production and
a balanced hydration routine that includes both water and
(11:05):
electrolytes rather than water alone.
We see so many people, they think they're over hydrating
with a lot of water, but they'renot doing anything.
They're causing more problems than good, dizzy spells,
fogginess, headaches, and they're drinking a lot of water.
So there's a key to it. We also teach clients to
minimize mineral thieves, right?These include alcohol, refined
sugar, too much caffeine, all which increase mineral
(11:27):
excretion, even carbonated drinks.
Certain medications can deplete magnesium and potassium over
time. One simple practice we recommend
is starting your morning with what we call adrenal water.
Just a glass of warm water, squeeze a lemon and pinch of sea
salt. This combination gently wakes
your system, helps absorb water and replenish a sodium after a
night of fasting. Another key factor is timing.
(11:49):
The brain depends on steady hydration throughout the day,
not large doses all at once. Instead of chugging water
occasionally, sip slowly every 30 to 60 minutes.
You're supposed to do this with protein shakes too.
I know it's hard for a lot of people.
I don't like doing it, you know,having a protein shakes for 30
minutes. But a lot of times, you know, I
have a protein shake and I knockit out in 2 minutes.
But you're supposed to, you know, sip it over a course of 30
(12:12):
to 60 minutes. The reason for this?
On the water side, it keeps yourneurons firing smoothly and
helps prevent that mid afternoonmental crash.
The results are often fast. Within days of restoring
minerals and adjusting hydration, clients report clear
thinking focus, better mood and less reliance on caffeine.
It's one of those foundational shifts that feels almost too
simple to work. Yet it does.
(12:35):
Because here's the truth. Your brain isn't running low on
motivation, it's running low on charge.
Think of your cell phone when you have hydration, minerals,
and stress balance. When they're all In Sync, you
stop fighting your brain to function.
It just performs. If you're struggling with brain
fog, poor concentration, or constant drain feeling, we help
you pinpoint that cause. Visit mindfulobjective.com to
learn more. And clear thinking doesn't come
(12:56):
by pushing harder. It comes from supporting your
body's internal balance. When you give your brain the
minerals and hydration it needs,clarity follows naturally.
Now let's focus on how to do it right in your daily life.
This is where science meets the practical side most hydration
advice stops at. Drink 8 glasses of water a day.
It's simple, but it's very, veryoutdated.
(13:18):
Hydration is not one-size-fits-all because your
body has different needs based on activity, diet, environment,
and stress levels. Again, everybody's
individualized. Someone working in an office has
a very different hydration demands than someone exercising
outdoors or dealing with adrenalfatigue or people like Geraldo
that are walking, you know, 1525miles a day.
Let's start with this in the morning.
(13:39):
Most important time to hydrate, right in the morning when you
wake up, your body is gone. Hours without water.
You've been breathing, sweating,and using fluids all night long.
And that's why most people wake up feeling stiff, foggy, or
tired, even after sleeping. But before you reach for that
coffee, start your day with mineralized water.
Here's a simple routine we teachclients at Mindful Objective.
(14:00):
Fill a glass of water at room temperature water.
Add a pinch of sea salt or tracemineral drops.
Squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon.
This combination helps replenishsodium that's lost overnight.
It supports your adrenal functions.
It gives your cells what they need to absorb water.
Think of it as hydration before stimulation.
Coffee later will feel smoother because your system isn't
(14:20):
running on empty, right? Do not just have coffee first
thing in the morning. Start with hydration.
Next, sip that water gradually throughout the day instead of
chugging it all at once. When you drink too much water in
one sitting, your kidneys at that point will start to excrete
it quickly by flushing out all your valued electrolytes, so
you're defeating the whole purpose.
Slow, steady intakes gives your cells time to absorb water and
(14:42):
maintain balance. Aim for about half of your body
weight in ounces of total fluidsdaily, adjusting for exercise
and heat. So that's where we always say
about food tracking or intake tracking.
Liquid tracking. Track to see actually how much
water you are drinking throughout the day.
Timing matters, too. Drinking a glass of water 20 to
30 minutes before meals aids digestion, while drinking large
amounts during meals can dilute stomach acid.
(15:04):
After exercise, replace both water and minerals.
Coconut water is good, electrolyte powders are good,
and lightly salted foods also work well.
Now let's talk about the kind ofwater you drink.
Filtered or bottled water may taste clean, but most modern
purification systems remove those minerals.
Reverse osmosis and distilled water are dead waters.
They're free of contaminants, but also are free of
(15:25):
electrolytes if you rely on them.
It's essential to add trace minerals.
I usually do this in those mineral drops.
Or you can use the high quality electrolyte powders.
Their body health has a good one.
Without them, you'll be hydrating and depleting yourself
at the same time. It's not what you want.
The balance of sodium and potassium is especially
important here. Sodium helps retain water, while
(15:46):
potassium helps move it into thecells.
When these are out of balance, you may retain fluid, experience
swelling, or feel sluggish. Adding foods again, like
avocado, sweet potatoes, orangesand leafy greens help restore
potassium naturally. But you have to eat a lot of
them, so sometimes people have to take those potassium
supplements. Magnesium is another unsung hero
of hydration. It relaxes muscles, improves
(16:08):
energy, and supports other processes in the body.
Many people are deficient because of stress, caffeine and
processed food. They all deplete it.
Drinking extreme amounts of water without replenish
electrolytes can lead to hypo hyponatremia, which is a
dangerous drop in sodium levels.Symptoms include fatigue,
confusion, headaches and severe cases, nausea.
The goal is balance, not excess.Say this all the time, not
(16:31):
excess. People get excessive on stuff.
Take slow, slow your roll as therock would say.
So same thing as you got to slowdown.
Understand and take everything in moderation.
You can also support hydration through food.
Cucumbers, watermelon, celery, strawberries, and romaine
lettuce all are water rich and naturally contain electrolytes.
Soups and broths are excellent way to combine hydration and
(16:54):
minerals, especially during those colder months.
If you sweat heavily, exercise often, or have adrenal stress,
you may need electrolyte supplement daily.
I always recommend personally, you know, for myself and family
is I always say and electrolytes, use electrolytes
daily. We do recommend avoiding sugary
sports drinks instead of using clean options that contain
(17:16):
sodium, potassium, magnesium without those artificial
additives. So what do we do?
We customize hydration strategies here at My Objective
through that lab testing. Focus on rebuilding those sodium
levels and some you have to rebuild potassium, magnesium
balance. You have to understand that the
testing again takes out the guesswork and allows us to
target exactly what your body needs.
(17:37):
The difference between being hydrated and optimally hydrated
shows up fast. Steady your energy, a better
mood, clear skin, improve digestion.
It's not about preventing dehydration, it's about
optimizing performance and your overall health.
So tomorrow morning, skip the rush to cough.
Start with your mineralized water, sip it consistently
throughout the day, and support yourselves, not just your
(17:59):
thirst. When hydration is done right,
it's not a chore. It's a rhythm, one that fuels
clarity, focus and lasting energy all day long.
So we did cover a lot in this episode.
I didn't mean it to be this long.
And finally, when people think of dehydration, they imagine
extreme thirst, dry mouth, or maybe dizziness.
But dehydration can look subtle.It could be low energy, poor
(18:19):
concentration, irritability, or even muscle tension.
These are all signs your body's trying to communicate that it's
not getting the minerals or water it needs to function at
its best. Where do you start?
You start by understanding your baseline.
Most people are guessing when itcomes to hydration and mineral
intake. They try random electrolyte
drinks or supplements hoping something sticks.
(18:39):
But without testing, it's like driving with your dashboard
lights off. You might get somewhere, but you
don't know how efficiently. That's why I'm mindful.
Objective. We've mentioned those tests,
Hair tissue mineral analysis, organic acid test, 2 great
tests. The big one we already talked
about is the HTMA does identify different minerals such as
sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium.
Then we look more in depth at that OAT test.
(19:01):
This is one that really matters.It complements them beautifully.
Between those two tests, it looks at how your body is
actually using those minerals inenergy production,
detoxification, and neurotransmitter balance.
It helps us see if mitochondria function or oxidative stress is
contributing to your fatigue or poor focus.
Together those two tests give the full picture and how
hydration works internally for you specifically.
(19:23):
Once we have those results, we build a plan around food,
supplements and lifestyle. This might again include adding
more magnesium rich foods, spinach, pumpkin seeds, dark
chocolate, increasing potassium through avocado or coconut
water, or balancing sodium through sea salt or mineral rich
broths. For supplementation, we focus
precision and quality. Again 20% off at the website.
(19:46):
Take advantage of our discount. Magnesium glycinate, right, for
muscle relaxation, cellular energy trace mineral drops for
hydration support. And that could be, you know,
powder such as Body Health has agood one.
Adrenal support to strengthen sodium cortisol regulation.
Electrolyte powders such as BodyHealth, especially for those who
exercise and work long hours. You may need more.
(20:07):
And remember, hydration isn't only about what you drink or
take. It's also about your lifestyle.
Stress, poor sleep, overexertiondeplete minerals quickly.
That's why it's part of the approach to address root causes
of imbalance. Managing stress through breath
work, meditation, light movementcan help your body retain
minerals. Prioritizing sleep allows your
(20:28):
kidneys and adrenal glands to reset overnight.
What else do we remind clients to do?
Think about your environmental factors.
Air conditioning or heating systems dry out your body faster
than you think. So can excessive screen time.
Are you on your phone all day? Are you on a computer all day?
Staring at a digital devices lowers your blink rate.
And what else does it do? Increases your water loss
(20:49):
through your eyes, leading to fatigue and headaches that also
mimic dehydration symptoms. Small adjustments like taking
breaks, hydrating regularly, andspending time outdoors.
These will all make a difference.
Hydration supports every function in the body.
It helps regulate temperature, aids digestion, cushion joints,
supports detoxification, and fuels cognitive performance.
Remember that? But when we reduce it and say
(21:11):
drink more water, we missed the real opportunity to bring that
entire system into balance. That's our goal here.
True hydration is about retention, not volume.
It's about making sure every cell in your body has what it
needs to thrive. When your minerals, hydration
lifestyle line, your energy feels effortless, your thoughts
become clearer and you recover faster, and you simply function
(21:32):
better. So if you want to stop guessing
and finally understand your body, visit
mindfulobjective.com. Reach out, have a question?
Send us a question, we'll gladlyanswer it.
Not a big deal. Every client we work with has
that unique mineral fingerprint.Once we uncover yours, we can
help you build a sustainable plan that fits your lifestyle
and your goals. And as we wrap things up here,
(21:52):
remember at the end of the day, hydration isn't a quick fix,
it's the foundation. And when the foundation is
strong, everything else in your health journey becomes easier.
At least now you know what true hydration looks like, why
electrolytes matter, and how testing can reveal what your
body really needs. As always, remember the
information shared here is for educational purposes only and
should never be taken as medicaladvice.
(22:13):
Always consult your qualified healthcare provider before
making any changes to your health plan.
Be sure to reach out via mindfulobjective.com if you have
any questions or you want to look further into testing.
Thanks for listening and until next time, stay mindful, stay
healthy, and stay empowered.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.