We explore the hyper-hydration trend and ask whether intense focus on drinking enough fluid is always healthy (for your body and your bank balance)

From giant water bottles to sleek electrolyte drinks, it’s safe to say that hydration is having a moment in the wellness conversation right now. According to an Innova Market Insights report, consumer research shows that hydration is the number one desired food and beverage health benefit, and videos of ‘what I drink in a day’ and ads for hydration drinks are popular features on our social media feeds. We all have to stay hydrated, but what’s the truth behind the trend?

Lauren Wallis Dyer is a functional nutritionist with a background in nutritional biochemistry and medical molecular biology. “It certainly feels as though hydration has had something of a makeover in recent years,” she says. “The marketing message has also moved well beyond simply quenching thirst. Increasingly, hydration is being presented as a way to stay ahead of fatigue, low energy, headaches, and the demands of modern life. It’s part of a broader shift across the wellness industry, where everyday habits are increasingly viewed as opportunities to support health and wellbeing.”

As Lauren sees it, these messages spread because they resonate with the realities of modern life. She points to the fact that people are constantly on the move, juggling busy schedules and looking for convenient ways to support their health.

“Ready-to-drink products and portable sachets fit neatly into that lifestyle, making hydration easy to carry, easy to incorporate into a daily routine and, for many people, more appealing than simply reaching for a glass of water,” Lauren explains. “That may genuinely help some people drink more. In the process, hydration products have found their way into the daily routines of people who may never previously have considered using them, becoming aspirational, highly shareable, and closely aligned with modern wellness culture.”

The NHS recommends that we drink six to eight cups (about 1.2 to 2 litres) of fluid a day to stay healthy. This includes water, lower-fat milk, and sugar-free drinks like tea and coffee. Hydration not only affects our physical health, but also our mental health. And we might notice cognitive decline when we aren’t getting enough to drink – from brain fog to sluggishness.

“Perhaps the biggest practical benefit is that the expanding range of hydration products may make it easier for some people to maintain a good fluid intake,” says Lauren. “Not everyone enjoys drinking plain water, and for those who don’t, flavoured powders, effervescent tablets, and ready-to-drink options can provide enough variety to encourage more regular drinking. In that sense, the product itself may be less important than the habit it helps create.”

But there is a flip-side. Lauren highlights how, like so many areas of the wellness industry, consumers need to be mindful of the commercial incentives behind the messaging.

“It’s little wonder many people are left thinking they need an electrolyte product for everyday life. Some advertising would have us believe that a gentle walk, a short gym session, or a yoga class requires a specialised hydration or recovery drink,” she says. “Perfectly normal physiology is being medicalised and marketed, encouraging people to overcomplicate something the body is already remarkably well equipped to manage, and to spend money on products they may not actually need.

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What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals that carry a positive or negative electrical charge when dissolved in water. 

“The kidneys, together with hormones that control thirst and fluid balance, continually adjust water and electrolyte levels according to the body’s needs. That’s why someone running a marathon in hot weather has very different hydration requirements from someone spending the day at a desk or taking the dog for a walk.”

But if you are interested in electrolytes, Lauren suggests paying close attention to the formula. Because they often also function as sports drinks, they can contain significant amounts of sugar. And while effervescent tablets are handy, they are often acidic, which can cause bloating, stomach cramps, and also damage your tooth enamel.

“The first question I’d encourage people to ask is whether they actually need the product,” advises Lauren. “For many healthy adults going about their normal day-to-day lives, drinking enough fluid and eating a balanced diet will usually provide everything needed to maintain hydration. Electrolyte products certainly have their place, but they are not automatically necessary simply because they’ve become popular. It’s worth asking whether you’re reaching for one because your circumstances genuinely warrant it or simply because hydration has become the latest wellness trend.”

Lauren also recommends looking at how your diet impacts your fluid and electrolyte balance. Cutting back on ultra-processed foods, for example, can reduce your sodium intake, which can help keep the balance.

“The right approach will always depend on the individual, taking into account factors such as diet, activity levels, climate, sweat losses, overall health, and the demands being placed on the body,” Lauren says. “If your electrolyte levels are already where they need to be, the kidneys will simply filter out any excess. Put simply, if you don’t need them, you’re quite literally flushing your money away. In most cases, simple hydration habits will do far more for your hydration than chasing the latest trending product.”