Hydration Isn’t Just About Drinking Water

2 minute read

You’ve probably heard that staying hydrated is as simple as drinking enough water. But hydration isn’t only about how much you drink—it’s about how much your body retains. That’s where the Beverage Hydration Index (BHI) comes in.

Think of the BHI as the hydration equivalent of the glycemic index. It measures how much of what you drink actually stays in your body compared to water, which scores a baseline of 1.0.

BHI > 1.0: Better fluid retention than water
BHI < 1.0: Less fluid retained

Developed by Dr. Ron Maughan and colleagues, BHI testing has become the gold standard in hydration science.

What the Research Says

A 2021 study published in Nutrients compared four types of drinks in healthy adults:

Water (W)
Electrolytes only (E) — ~21–23 mmol/L sodium, ~3 mmol/L potassium
Carbohydrate + Electrolyte (C+E) — ~6% carbs + same electrolytes
Amino + Electrolyte (AG+E) — alanyl-glutamine + same electrolytes

The findings were eye-opening:

C+E drinks held about 15% more fluid than water over 2–4 hours.
Amino + Electrolyte formulas matched that retention—without added sugars.
Electrolytes alone drove more than 12% of the hydration boost, showing that sodium does the heavy lifting when it comes to fluid balance.
Participants also reported less bloating with electrolyte and amino formulas than with plain water.

In other words: clean, low-sugar hydration formulas with optimized electrolytes really do help your body hold onto more of what you drink.

Why We Made Stay Wyld Electrolytes

At Stay Wyld, we don’t do quick fixes—we make functional fuel. Our Just Peachy Electrolytes x Lion’s Mane was designed using the same scientific principles found in BHI research:

Optimized sodium and potassium levels (~20–25 mmol/L sodium) for proven fluid retention.
Lion’s Mane extract for cognitive clarity and focus—because hydration and mental performance go hand in hand.
Vitamin C and magnesium for immune and energy support.
Zero sugar, zero artificial additives, and all the clean hydration your body actually keeps.

Our formula mirrors the electrolyte balance shown in BHI studies—helping you hold onto more of what you drink, naturally.

Different Types of Hydration, Simplified

Formula Type	When to Use	BHI Advantage	Key Takeaway
Electrolyte Only	Everyday hydration, clean and low-cal	~12% higher retention than water	Sodium drives real hydration
Carb + Electrolyte	After workouts or heat exposure	~15% higher retention in 2 hours	Great for rapid recovery
Amino + Electrolyte	Sustained, low-sugar hydration	~15% higher retention at 4 hours	Long-lasting balance without sugar

Stay Science-Based, Stay Wyld

We believe hydration should be backed by research, not trends.

The Beverage Hydration Index proves that what matters isn’t just drinking more—it’s keeping more. And with Just Peachy Electrolytes x Lion’s Mane, you get a clean, functional formula that supports focus, energy, and hydration all at once.