Why water alone is no longer enough to hydrate properly
by L'équipe AUA Hydrate
Drink 1.5 litres of water a day. We've all known that advice since childhood, a mantra that was supposed to be enough to keep the body in balance. But in 2026 the scientific picture is more nuanced — and it calls into question the very idea of “hydration by water alone”.
The problem: water that is increasingly stripped bare
There was a time when the water that came down from the glaciers, ran over the rock and reached us was loaded with the essential minerals our bodies call for: magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium. Today that water has all but disappeared.
Modern tap water, filtered and treated to meet health standards, has a sharply reduced mineral content. Bottled waters, even those labelled “mineral”, often supply only a fraction of the electrolytes our cells need to work properly.
Hydration: much more than water
Hydration, in the biological sense, is not just a volume of water swallowed. It depends on the electrolyte balance in your body. Electrolytes — those electrically charged minerals — are what actually allow water to get into your cells.
Without them, water passes through again and again without truly feeding your tissues. That's why you can drink 2 litres a day and still feel:
- Chronic tiredness in the middle of the afternoon
- Unexplained muscle cramps
- A “mental fog” settling in
- Persistent headaches
- Difficulty recovering after exercise
All these signals share one common denominator: a mineral imbalance, not a lack of water.
The 4 electrolytes your body is calling for
Sodium
Often demonised, sodium is nonetheless the most important electrolyte for water regulation. It maintains the osmotic pressure of your cells. Without enough sodium, the water you drink is quickly flushed out by the kidneys without having fed your tissues.
Potassium
It works in tandem with sodium to maintain cellular balance. Potassium is essential to nerve transmission, heart rhythm regulation and muscle function.
Magnesium
Probably the most deficient mineral in Switzerland. It is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions. It supports muscle recovery, sleep quality and stress management.
Calcium
Beyond bone health, calcium is a key player in muscle contraction and blood clotting. Without it, the other electrolytes work less well.
Why a plain “energy drink” isn't enough
At this point you may be thinking of the sports drinks you see in supermarkets. Be careful: most are loaded with sugar (15 to 30 g per bottle), artificial flavourings and colourings. They make up for it a little in electrolytes but charge a high metabolic price.
A genuine modern hydration solution has to deliver the essential electrolytes at physiological doses, with no added sugar, no caffeine or stimulants, and be easy to fit into everyday life.
Our approach
We formulated AUA Hydrate around a simple principle: to recreate water as it should have reached us. A complete formula of 10 essential minerals and vitamins, sugar-free, to dissolve in a glass of water in the morning, after exercise, or in the middle of the afternoon.
Not an energy drink, not a medical product: a daily ritual of functional hydration, designed to fit naturally into your routine.
If you'd like to test the effect of electrolyte-rich hydration over 7 days, our three flavours — strawberry, peach, lemon — are made for exactly that.
