How to Actually Stay Hydrated This Summer (Without Falling for the Hype)
The ultimate biohacker’s guide to making water energizing, healing, and life-giving again.
I have a thing for water.
We’ve got a pretty cool relationship: I drink her, she hangs out with my cells, then she leaves, and I miss her until the next time we meet. It’s a cycle I never get tired of.
I even talk to my water (don’t laugh—it’s a thing).
And yes, I spend an embarrassing $150 a week on four shiny glass bottles that show up at my doorstep, each half a gallon.
People think I’m insane.
I think I’m investing in the most important substance on Earth.
Because here’s the truth: having clean, mineral-rich, structured water—not just for drinking, but for your skin, showers, and even pools—is one of the easiest ways to boost your energy, recovery, and overall health this summer.
Yet the “hydration” space is a circus.
Everywhere you look, there’s some influencer pushing neon-blue electrolyte packets or $12 bottles of “activated” water.
It’s hard to know what’s actually helping—and what’s just another overpriced fad.
So let’s cut through the noise.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be a water pro, armed with everything you need to stay hydrated, avoid toxins, and maybe even feel superhuman along the way.
Lets dive in my people!!!!
Why Water Quality Is Everything
When I first tried clean, structured, and properly mineralized water, I was blown away.
It was at a health conference in Austin.
In a corner booth, a company called Ophora had these tall glass bottles with a glowing logo. I took a sip, and it was the first time I realized water could actually feel alive.
That same day, I learned just how much the water most of us drink every day can age us—or keep us thriving.
Municipal tap water often contains chlorine, fluoride, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and “forever chemicals” like PFAS. Long-term, these aren’t just gross—they can cause oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, and accelerate aging.
One 2023 study from the U.S. Geological Survey found PFAS chemicals in nearly 45% of U.S. tap water samples, some at levels linked to immune suppression, cancer, and fertility issues.
In other words, that “it’s just water, bro” mindset? It’s slowly wrecking you.
Check out the amount of toxins in your tap water.
After sipping that clean, structured water for the first time, I had only one thought:
How do I get more of this—and how do I avoid all the toxins that have been wrecking my health?
It forced me to start thinking about things most people never consider.
Now I’ve built a step-by-step solution so you can create your own, too.
Step 1: Filter Water (And Actually Make It Safe)
Most tap water is loaded with things you’d never willingly drink if they came with a label: PFAS (“forever chemicals”), chlorine byproducts, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and even fertilizer and pesticide residues.
Filtering these out isn’t as simple as grabbing the first pitcher you see at Target.
The truth is, most common filters—think Brita or PUR—barely do anything beyond improving taste and odor.
They leave behind the heavy metals, PFAS, and industrial chemicals that matter most. These are what I call the BS filters—good for marketing, bad for actual protection.
The goal here isn’t just to make your water taste crisp. It’s to make it safe.
Here’s how to actually get there, based on your budget:
Budget ($) – Go for a ZeroWater. It pulls out far more contaminants than a Brita, especially heavy metals and PFAS.
Mid-Tier ($$) – An AquaTru reverse osmosis (RO) system. These strip out everything harmful. Just remember: RO water comes out “empty,” so you’ll want to remineralize it (we’ll get to that in the next step).
High-End ($$$) – Whole-home systems like Ophora. These filter, alkalize, and remineralize your water automatically. Ophora even makes pool and spa systems, so you’re not marinating in chlorine every time you take a dip.
And don’t stop at your drinking water. Your shower water matters, too.
Chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) get absorbed through your skin and lungs. A simple shower filter can protect your skin, hair, and respiratory health. The companies above also do filters for shower.
Step 2: Re-Mineralize Water (So It’s Not “Dead”)
Now that we’ve scrubbed your water clean, there’s another issue: we also stripped out the good stuff.
Without minerals, water doesn’t hydrate nearly as well. It’s basically “dead” to your body.
Filtered water can actually pull minerals from your tissues if you don’t fix it.
The good news? Re-mineralizing is easy:
Add a pinch of quality sea salt
Few drops of beam trace minerals
Make your own electrolyte water: filtered water + minerals + a squeeze of lemon. It beats most “hydration packets” (which are often just sugar bombs with marketing).
Boom.
Step 3: Structure Your Water
For the even more perfect water, we now structure it. What does that mean?
Think of it as taking chaotic, stagnant water and turning it into a flowing, organized stream your body instantly recognizes.
Structured water is more stable, more bioavailable, and, according to some studies, more hydrating at the cellular level.
The basic idea: when water molecules are arranged in a natural, crystalline structure (like they would be in a mountain stream), they move through your cells and mitochondria more efficiently.
The result? You feel more energized and less “sloshy” when hydrating.
I first learned about this at a cortisol reduction study where I tested Somavedic, a device that supposedly structures water and reduces environmental stress (like EMFs).
I went in skeptical, but after a month, I noticed my HRV (heart rate variability) tick up—a sign my nervous system was calmer.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need expensive tech to structure your water.
You can do it for free—or almost free—with a few tricks:
Vortex It (Old-School Style): Stir your water in a figure-eight pattern for 30 seconds to mimic the motion of a natural stream. Or pour it back and forth between two glasses from a bit of height.
Sun and Glass: Leave your water in a clear glass jar in natural sunlight for an hour. The UV light energizes the water and the glass avoids plastic leaching.
Minerals + Movement: Add a pinch of sea salt or trace minerals, then shake or swirl the bottle.
Chill: Store your water in the fridge or over ice to stabilize the molecular clusters.
Nature’s Touch: If you’re near a clean river or spring, fill up there (filter after if needed).
If you want to go beyond the free methods, devices like Somavedic, UMH, or a dedicated vortexer can streamline the process.
But start simple. Half the benefit comes from using water that’s mineralized, oxygenated, and not sitting lifeless in a plastic jug.
Step 4: Ditch Plastics for Good
Even perfect water becomes a problem if you drink it from plastic.
Bottled water can leach BPA, phthalates, and microplastics—many of which act as endocrine disruptors (aka “estrogenics”) that mess with hormones and gut health.
A 2024 Environmental Science & Technology report found that the average liter of bottled water contains roughly 240,000 detectable plastic particles, most small enough to pass through the gut barrier and enter circulation.
Solution? Glass and stainless steel only.
My picks:
Mountain Valley Spring Water (always in glass)
HydroFlask or LARQ stainless bottles for travel
A countertop glass dispenser at home, so you’re not pouring from plastic jugs all day
My Quick Travel Checklist
You’ve crafted perfect water at home—filtered, mineralized, maybe even vortexed into crystalline mountain-stream magic. Congrats.
You’re officially on the path to a happier, healthier you.
But then… you hit the road. Gas station, airport, hotel lobby. A fridge full of mystery bottles. Which one do you grab?
Here’s my checklist—the exact criteria I use before I buy any bottled water:
Is it in glass? If not, I’m skeptical.
Is it from a spring? Real spring water is naturally mineralized and often structured.
Does it have added “minerals” or mystery ingredients? Skip anything with fake “electrolytes for taste.”
Is it in plastic? If it’s your only choice, pick thicker PET-1 plastic and avoid heat or sun exposure.
Is it clean, still spring water? Sparkling can be fun, but I hydrate with still water 90% of the time.
My go-to road waters:
Mountain Valley (glass)
Alive Water (events or festivals)
Spring Aqua (wellness shops)
Gerolsteiner (sparkling, mineral-rich, glass)
Fiji (emergency backup—plastic, but clean source and silica-rich)
Final Word
I hope I taught you a little about this wacky world of water.
Because when you have clean water, you have energy to do stuff that matters. Your skin looks great, you feel hydrated, you smell great, and you have the power to take on the world.
The question is: what will you do with all that new energy you have?
Love you all.
💌 What’s one small thing you’re going to do today?
And if you know someone who needs a little fire under their ass—send this their way.
I’m grateful to my partners who create amazing health & wellness products.