HER2 Support Group Forums - Anybody drink Smart Water during chemo? starting next week...yikes!

Hi Bessie,

Assuming you mean that bottled water "distilled from the clouds", I believe Smart Water is a gimmick. It is fine to drink of you like the taste and can afford it.

Provided you are able to eat (that is, not continually vomiting), don't have severe diarrhea and don't have renal failure or uncontrolled diabetes, then your body will take care of your electrolyte levels if you drink and eat healthy stuff. Most people prefer to drink a range of different fluids (water, soup, juice, sports drinks etc - avoid too much soft drink/ soda and coffee and alcohol aren't great choices) because you need quite a lot of fluids to flush out the chemo in the first week. You can get sick of plain water. Filtered water can taste better when your mouth is affected. Plain water will provide the H2O, and your food will provide the sodium, potassium and glucose etc needed.

However, your electrolytes can go crazy if you can't keep anything down or have bad diarrhea. In that situation, you need the correct balance of electrolytes, glucose and water. You need to buy special rehydration fluids from the chemist/ drug store, or if it goes on more than 12 to 24 hours, receive special infusions at you medical center.

Smart Water is not a balanced rehydration fluid and does have the right composition if you are sick. It has no significant health properties compared to any other clean water source.

You can make home versions of rehydration fluids, which can be helpful to know if you don't have access to the chemist versions in an emergency. One recipe is given below. You can find others on the net. None of them taste that good, but they can save lives. Rice water (1 cup of rice cooked in 3 cups of water - drink the starchy water strained off the rice) is an alternative.

Homemade Rehydration Mix:
Table Salt 1/2 tsp.
Salt Substitute (Potassium Chloride) 1/2 tsp.
Baking Soda 1/2 tsp.
Table Sugar 2 tbsp, (A little sugar free cordial can be added for taste, BUT NO EXTRA SUGAR)
Boiled Tap Water 1 Litre

I know I sound very cynical about Smart Water. There is no harm in it if you enjoy it and you are not sick. I just don't like things that claim they have vague and unjustifiable health benefits.

Aussie Girl