As a dietetics professional, I always get a handful of the same common questions regarding nutrition. What are the best foods to eat? Should I go vegan? Is butter a carb (true story!)? While there is truly no one method or recommendation to nutrition that will work for everyone, there’s always one topic that does however, apply true for all: HYDRATION.

I know, it’s probably one you hear about often – but it’s also the one that gets overlooked the most. When was the last time you felt good with your water intake? This is particularly important since now that it’s warmer and we’re outside moving more (hey, I see you summertime Chicago!). Dehydration can cause a handful of common (and very general) symptoms – headaches, fatigue, dizziness. It’s easy to mistake dehydration for other things, but at the same time, it’s also one of the easiest things for us to manage. Since our bodies are mostly water, everything functions properly when we are adequately hydrated.

I’ve been stashing Kona Deep waters non-stop in my bag lately – especially on my way to workout at Studio Three. Have you guys spotted these before? I tend to buy bottled water in bulk because I’ve lost every reusable water bottle I’ve ever owned (sad but true story…every single one!).

The unique thing about Kona Deep water is its source, which gives it a higher level of minerals and electrolytes than most every other water. Kona Deep is extracted from the deep ocean (!!!) in Hawaii and desalinated (where they remove the natural salts) and bottled. This helps retain the natural minerals and electrolytes (think, electrolytes = helps keep hydration in check!) – nothing else is added to the water, which is different from the other bottled waters you’ll typically find.

Our bodies naturally carry electrolytes through adequate diet and hydration, but after working out, the balance gets thrown off due to the loss of water through sweat. It’s particularly important to be mindful about refueling electrolytes post-workout for recovery.

Typical bottled water has some type of minerals added back into it after an extreme purification process. With KONA, everything is truly “natural” in the definition that what you see is what you get.

The bottled water industry is pretty saturated these days and being hydrated with just any water is better than none, but all water is not created equal! There are specific research cases that show certain waters, including Kona Deep, can hydrate you faster and demonstrate a correlation between electrolyte consumption and increased muscle recovery after a workout.

The taste is refreshing and crisp, not mineral-y or salty – and it doesn’t leave an aftertaste. Water testing goes through an extensive process before getting bottled – Kona Deep has been verified by water testing experts as one of the cleanest waters available, mainly due to the fact that it’s extracted at 3000ft below the ocean’s surface (where it’s untouched by light or surface ocean water!)

I always keep a few bottles in the fridge because it’s incredibly refreshing after a hot day outside. Plus, the smaller bottles store perfectly in any bag! Even though every body will require different needs, the general recommendation is around 1.5 liters per day – more if you are working out. One of the easiest ways is to start the day off strong – a cup right when you wake up.

You can currently find Kona Deep on Amazon or throughout Mariano’s & Fresh Thyme location in the Chicagoland area.

Want to try Kona Deep water for yourself? Enter to win a prize package from Kona Deep HERE.

This post was written in collaboration with Kona Deep. Thank you for supporting projects that make Nutrition Happen!