“Chug Jug” – Why Hydration is Still Important Even When at Home
Author: Franklin Pham
About the Author: I am currently an undergraduate pre-med, majoring in Biology at the University of Saint Thomas. As a fellow student, I want to help others succeed in the way I know best. One day, I will be able to help others more, when I become a physician.
In Leviathan’s song “Chug Jug”, the term Chug Jug refers to a blue beverage that a player consumes to restore their health.
Similarly, we are expected to stay hydrated, regardless of whether one goes outside or exercises, to stay healthy.
It does not matter if we are simply surfing on the internet, sleeping, or binge watching on Netflix. Our body is continuously maintaining its processes to keep us alive. It is a well-known fact that many of those processes have reactions and mechanisms that occur in our body that release water.
Filtering out the blood for waste and excreting those wastes through urination is just one of the many processes that involve water release. Secreting mucus, making proteins, and creating fluid to lubricate organs are some other ways our bodies use water. There is a lot of water expelled out of our body, thus we must take care to replenish those fluids with proper hydration.
It is extremely important to have the right amount of fluid intake. Dr. Ritz and Dr. Berrut, in a 2005 study, found that those who were dehydrated had poor renal function and worse skin conditions at geriatric clinics, and lower cognitive function in young adults. Water is essential to keep the cells in our body healthy and the blood pressure regulated. It also allows nutrients to be delivered to where they are needed and helps with achieving daily optimal performance for any tasks we encounter.
To ensure that one is properly hydrated, the water must be oxygenated, clean, and contain essential minerals. This is to compensate for the constituents lost along with the water from the body, according to a research study on hydration in foods in relation to health by Popkin and his team (2010). Without replenishing them into the body, the deficiencies will accrue over time, and may lead to future health problems.
The recommended drinks, by Lacoma (2013), are teas, Gatorade/Powerade, and fruit juices as they are popular beverages among athletes. That is why there is a lot of advertisements for athletes and drinks, like Lebron James and Cranberry Sprite for example. Even if a person does not prefer any of these options, mineral water is a great alternative to tap water, as De Giglio and his team (2015) found that there was less chlorination and had a better taste in general. While water is water, adjusting to our preferences helps encourage hydration. It is encouraged to be mindful of sugar intake in these drinks as well.
That’s why, everywhere you go, there are drinks of every kind in every kind of way: water fountains, soda machines, pitchers, jugs, coolers, and bowls.
Staying hydrated is an important part of our everyday life, and should be taken seriously, whether you lead an active or sedentary lifestyle.
Citations
Chug Jug With You – Parody of American Boy (Number One Victory Royale). (2018, December 19). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0Uh3OJCx3o
De Giglio O, Quaranta A, Lovero G, Caggiano G, Montagna MT. Mineral water or tap water? An endless debate. Ann Ig. 2015 Jan-Feb;27(1):58-65. doi: 10.7416/ai.2015.2023. PMID: 25748506.
Lacoma, T. (2013, August 7). 6 Effective Drinks for Athletes. STACK. https://www.stack.com/a/hydration-drinks.
Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH. Water, hydration, and health. Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x
Ritz P, Berrut G. The importance of good hydration for day-to-day health. Nutr Rev. 2005 Jun;63(6 Pt 2):S6-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00155.x. PMID: 16028567.
