The BEat by Kara Alloway August Edition
THE BIOHACK THAT STARTED IN EUROPE (AND ENDED IN MY WATER BOTTLE)
Let’s talk bio hacks. It’s one of those buzzy words that sounds like something Silicon Valley bros and wellness influencers throw around in an infrared sauna. But at its core, biohacking is simply paying attention to your body and making small, intentional tweaks—food, light, sleep, supplements, mindset—that help it perform better.
It’s the modern-day version of what Josephine Cochrane did when she said, “There’s got to be a better way.” (She’s the high-society woman who invented the dishwasher—file that one away for your next trivia night.)
I’ve been experimenting with a few beauty bio hacks myself lately, and over the coming months, I’ll be sharing some of my favorites right here in BE Magazine. But let’s begin with the most surprising one of all…salt. Yes, salt. The original mineral miracle. The thing that keeps fries addictive. But here’s what no one told us: our bodies need sodium—especially if we want to absorb the water we drink.
This realization started for me on the cobbled streets of Europe this summer. Pardon the overshare, but I noticed something unexpected: fewer bathroom stops when sipping bubbly instead of flat water. At first, I chalked it up to coincidence or carbonation. But as I kept drinking, I started to wonder. Could it be the sodium? Turns out—yes.
Salt helps your mitochondria (those microscopic power plants inside every cell) use the water you’re giving them. Without enough sodium, the body can’t balance fluids, move nutrients efficiently, or generate energy properly. While we all know hydration is essential, we rarely talk about cellular hydration—the kind that stays with you and fuels your skin, your muscles, your glow.
And glow matters. Julianne Moore famously drinks two glasses of water the minute she wakes up. Jennifer Aniston calls water her ultimate beauty trick. Gisele Bündchen swears hydration is the secret to her skin. But if your body isn’t retaining that water… what’s the point?
Enter the bio hack. My son, always ahead of the curve, has been adding LMNT (pronounced “element”) electrolyte packs to his water bottle for two years. They contain sodium, potassium, and magnesium—no sugar, no fillers. Just minerals your body needs. Since recently following his lead, I’ve noticed a clear difference.
Prefer to keep things homespun? Try this: every time you drink a glass of water, place two granules of Celtic Sea Salt under your tongue. That’s it. Nothing fancy. Of course, this isn’t medical advice—always check with your doctor—but for me, it’s been a game changer.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” That verse always puzzled me. I mean, I love a good spice—but being called to merely “season” the world felt a little… underwhelming. Sort of like being cast as the parsley garnish in a five-course tasting menu. But now? Knowing how salt functions in the body—working at the cellular level to sustain life, energy, and wholeness—alongside the living water? Mind blown.
Salt doesn’t just sit on top and make things taste better. It goes in. It energizes. It helps transform. It enables every part of the body to do its job better. When Jesus said we’re the salt of the earth, He wasn’t calling us background seasoning—He was inviting us to be essential. Vital. Integrated.
Maybe it starts with a little packet stirred into your water bottle…or a few granules under your tongue. Either way stay salty. The good kind.
LMNT is available on amazon.ca. Get it here.
