Is Drinking Water Enough? When Hydration Needs More Than a Bottle

Why it matters

The old "8 glasses a day" rule is a guess that falls short for a lot of people. A better rule: aim for about half your body weight in ounces each day. A 160-pound person needs around 80 ounces, more on hot days, more if you train, more if you're sick.

Who needs more

Athletes. People recovering from a cold, the flu or a stomach bug. Anyone who drank heavily the night before. People with certain health conditions — ask your doctor. And anyone who spent a July afternoon at the Jersey Shore or a Saturday walking Manhattan end to end.

If you hate plain water

Coconut water has natural electrolytes. Drop lemon, cucumber or berries in a bottle and leave it in the fridge. Flavor drops are fine. Eat your water, too: cucumber, watermelon, oranges and soup all count.

The early signs water isn't keeping up

Tiredness, irritability, dry skin and hair, headaches, dark circles under the eyes, strong thirst, and going to the bathroom less often. Catch these early and a glass of water usually solves it.

When water isn't enough

Sometimes you can't drink fast enough, or you can't keep it down. After a stomach bug, after a long night out, after a marathon, or when you've already got several of the signs above, your gut absorbs water slowly and you feel awful in the meantime.

A hydration IV skips that wait. A licensed nurse places a small line and runs 1 or 2 liters of normal saline or Lactated Ringer's, with electrolytes and, if you choose, vitamins, straight into your bloodstream. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes, there's no downtime, and it can be repeated when you need it.

Zen IV Spa brings that to you anywhere in New York and New Jersey, 8 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. A licensed provider reviews your health history on a short video call before your first drip and writes an order just for you, under our medical director's protocols.

Water first. A drip when water isn't enough. Book at zenivspa.com.

All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is provided only under the clearance, prescription or standing protocol of a licensed medical provider. Compounded peptides are not FDA-approved unless stated. Nothing on this page is a diagnosis or a promise of results.