How to Optimize Your Water Quality & Intake for Health | Huberman Lab Podcast

In this episode, I discuss our body’s most vital and essential nutrient—water. I explain the structure of water and how it is used by the cells and tissues of our body, how much water we each need to drink and when in order to optimize our mental focus and physical performance; and I include how exercise, humidity, heat, and caffeine affect our hydration needs. I explain how temperature and pH influence water’s physical properties and if there is any scientific basis for drinking so-called “pH water” or “alkalized water” to improve health. I explain how to test your tap water for contaminants (e.g., endocrine disruptors) and the documented problems with fluoride in drinking water. I provide options for filtering drinking water and describe different water types (e.g., reverse osmosis, hydrogen-enriched, electrolyzed reduced, deuterium depleted, etc.). Since the human body is mostly water (55-80% depending on one’s age) and water has essential roles in health, disease and cellular function, everyone ought to benefit from understanding how best to clean our tap water, hydrate effectively and in some cases, adjust the type of water we drink to allow our brain and body to function optimally in regard to health and performance.

For recommended water filters, tests and the full show notes, please visit https://hubermanlab.com/how-to-optimize-your-water-quality-and-intake-for-health

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Articles
Impact of cold exposure on life satisfaction and physical composition of soldiers: https://bit.ly/3kMxG7G
Circadian rhythms and the kidney: https://go.nature.com/41RHUnV
Endocrine Disruptors in Water and Their Effects on the Reproductive System: https://bit.ly/3L7rjXc
Impact of Drinking Water Fluoride on Human Thyroid Hormones: A Case- Control Study: https://go.nature.com/3ZFoFfu
Regulations for calcium, magnesium or hardness in drinking water in the European Union member states: https://bit.ly/3SOdnU4
Electrolyzed-Reduced Water: Review I. Molecular Hydrogen Is the Exclusive Agent Responsible for the Therapeutic Effects: https://bit.ly/3Zn9oAp
Electrolyzed-Reduced Water: Review II: Safety Concerns and Effectiveness as a Source of Hydrogen Water: https://bit.ly/3SQyu88
Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial: https://go.nature.com/3ZoUGJ6

Other Resources
Using Deliberate Cold Exposure for Health and Performance: https://hubermanlab.com/using-deliberate-cold-exposure-for-health-and-performance
ClearlyFiltered Pitcher: https://www.clearlyfiltered.com/products/clean-water-pitcher
Berkey Filters: https://www.berkeyfilters.com
Molecular Hydrogen: https://amzn.to/3mrs0AG

Timestamps
00:00:00 Water
00:03:33 Tool Deliberate Cold Exposure, Immersion & Showers Mood & Fat Loss
00:15:26 Sponsors: LMNT, Thesis, HVMN, Momentous
00:19:27 Water: Physical Properties & Chemistry
00:26:32 Bonds & Water Phases, “Structured Water”
00:34:07 Body, Cells & Water
00:36:22 Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)
00:37:37 Water as a Solvent, Temperature & On the phone. I’ll respond soon.
00:41:49 Water Transport in Cells, Aquaporin Channels
00:49:46 Alkaline/pH Water; Temperature, pH & Water Transport
00:55:14 Water Cellular Function, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) & Antioxidants
01:01:20 Sponsor: InsideTracker
01:02:38 Tool: Baseline Hydration
01:11:35 Tool: Hydration & Exercise, Galpin Equation
01:15:40 Tool: Hydration, Sauna, Humidity & Sweat; Thirst, Caffeine
01:19:15 Hydration; Cognitive & Physical Performance
01:23:53 Tool: Water Filtration; Nighttime Urination
01:29:35 Tap Water Tests, Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs), Fluoride & Thyroid Health
01:37:18 Tool: Water Filters
01:44:18 Tool: Resting Tap Water & Sediment
01:48:13 Tool: “Hard Water”; Magnesium, Calcium & Cardiovascular Health
01:53:40 Water Temperature
01:56:42 Water Types: Distilled, Reverse Osmosis, Hydrogen-Enriched
02:03:26 Hydrogen-Enriched Water, Magnesium, Optimize Hydration
02:11:13 Tool: Molecular Hydrogen Tablets, Water pH
02:14:05 Structured Water
02:16:39 Tool: Water Pipes, Faucet Filter
02:19:42 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter