Vivoo Water Box

Vivoo Water Box

Staying adequately hydrated by drinking fluids is vital for wellness. It keeps every part of the body functioning efficiently. 

Your body fluid balance, or “hydration status”, refers to the difference between fluid intake and loss. The kidneys help regulate the body’s fluid balance by controlling urine output: the more fluids you take in, the more urine the kidneys will produce, and vice versa. 

Dehydration or a deficiency of water in the body occurs when your body loses more fluids than you consume. Overhydration, or an excess of water in the body, on the other hand, occurs when you take in more water than the body can excrete [1].

Water is essential for life. Every cell, tissue, and organ in the body needs water to work properly. It plays a role in the digestion, absorption, and transportation of nutrients to our cells, and in the formation of biochemical reactions necessary for life and wellness.

Staying hydrated helps:

  • Regulate body temperature
  • Cleanse the body
  • Enhance cognitive function
  • Maximize physical performance
  • Improve digestion and absorption of nutrients [5] [6] [7]

What is a Specific Gravity Urine Test?

The urine-specific gravity test compares the density of urine with the density of water. Because of this, your urine-specific gravity value offers valuable insights into your hydration status.

What Does Specific Gravity Mean in a Urine Test?

Specific gravity in a urine test tells us how concentrated or diluted the urine is compared to water. It helps check if you're hydrated enough and how well your kidneys are functioning. 

When you take the Vivoo test, it is expected that the specific gravity of your urine is between 1.005 and 1.015 at an optimal level. Higher numbers indicate dehydration, while lower numbers indicate excessive water intake or a recent loss of fluids in the short term.

How to Use Vivoo to Check Specific Gravity?

Vivoo offers a straightforward and fuss-free method for determining whether you are sufficiently hydrated. With a simple test, you can learn your hydration status in real-time, and get personalized tips on how you can stay hydrated. This is especially useful if you juggle a packed schedule, and often forget to drink throughout the day. Vivoo’s Water box is designed to assess the user’s hydration status and provide personalized insights accordingly.

In addition to determining your hydration level, Vivoo also provides suggestions on:

  • How much water your body needs daily
  • How to reach an optimal state of hydration
  • What you can do to stay hydrated
  • How to maintain your body’s electrolyte balance

How to Evaluate Possible Results?

Here’s how you can interpret Vivoo strip test results on your specific gravity levels:

  • Score:6/10, 5/10, 2/10
  • Label: Dehydration
  • Value: 1.020, 1.025, 1.030 Specific Gravity

About 65% of the human body is made up of water, and it loses an average of 2.5-3 liters of fluids daily. Dehydration occurs when the fluids you lose are not adequately replenished [2]. 

  • Score:10/10
  • Label: Optimal
  • Value: 1.005, 1.010, 1.015 Specific Gravity 

Staying well-hydrated keeps the body’s fluid and electrolyte levels in balance and ensures wellness. For instance, drinking enough water is crucial for temperature regulation. At its core, hydration is key for becoming the best version of yourself [3]. 

  • Score:07/10
  • Label: Overhydration
  • Value: Below 1.005 Specific Gravity

Drinking too much water can lead to overhydration, which in turn can cause water intoxication. This occurs when the amount of sodium and other electrolytes in the body becomes too diluted [4].

When Should You Test Your Specific Gravity Levels?

You should test specific gravity levels in urine:

  • Regular Monitoring for Hydration Status: Routinely checking your specific gravity levels can help you understand how much water you're consuming daily and whether your body is maintaining its water balance.
  • Before and After Exercise: Testing your specific gravity levels before and after exercise can help you understand the balance of your body fluids. Observing fluid loss through sweating during exercise and changes in your body can be important.
  • During Illness or Changing Conditions: Particularly during illness or changing conditions, there can be sudden shifts in fluid levels in the body. Checking specific gravity levels regularly during such times might be beneficial.
  • In Hot Weather or High Altitude Conditions: In hot weather or at high altitudes, the body might lose more water. Monitoring specific gravity levels can help ensure you're adequately hydrated in these conditions.
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Table of Contents

What is a Specific Gravity Urine Test?

What Does Specific Gravity Mean in a Urine Test?

How to Use Vivoo to Check Specific Gravity?

How to Evaluate Possible Results?

When Should You Test Your Specific Gravity Levels?

Frequently Asked Question

FAQs

What is the importance of monitoring urine specific gravity for the body?

Urine specific gravity is a measure of the concentration of solutes (substances like electrolytes, minerals, and waste products) in urine compared to pure water. It's an important indicator of hydration status.

Monitoring your hydration status is important for quickly assessing whether you're drinking enough water according to your body's needs. Especially if you sweat a lot, engage in regular athletic activities, or have a feverish illness, your hydration levels can fluctuate. This is important for managing these kinds of situations and supporting overall well being.

What are the causes of decreased urine specific gravity?

A more dilute urine output, which result in decreased urine specific gravity, can be caused by several factors:
  • Drinking more fluids: When you drink a lot, your pee will be more dilute because your body gets rid of the extra water.
  • Certain medications or drinks: Some pills or things like coffee and alcohol can make you pee more by telling your kidneys to release more water.
  • Exercise: Intense physical activity can prompt increased sweating, leading to higher water intake and subsequently increased urine output.

Can drinking too little water cause protein to leak into the urine?

Sure, when you don't drink enough water, it can strain your kidneys and lead to proteins leaking into your urine. This happens because dehydration affects how well your kidneys filter waste. This is a temporary situation, and it's expected to return to normal once enough hydration is provided.

References

  1. Popkin, B. M., D'Anci, K. E., & Rosenberg, I. H. (2010). Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition reviews, 68(8), 439–458. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x
  2. Taylor K, Jones EB. Adult Dehydration. [Updated 2021 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/
  3. Jéquier, E., & Constant, F. (2009). Water as an essential nutrient: the physiological basis of hydration. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64(2), 115–123. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.111 
  4. Peechakara BV, Gupta M. Water Toxicity. [Updated 2021 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan- Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537231/?report=classic 
  5. B. Benelam, L. Wyness: Hydration and health: a review. 2010 22 Feb., Volume 35 Issue 2, Nutrition Bulletin. doi:  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2009.01795.x 
  6. DeAnn Liska, Eunice Mah, Tristin Brisbois,  Pamela L. Barrios, Lindsay B. Baker, and  Lawrence L. Spriet: Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population. Nutrients. 2019 Jan; 11(1): 70. Published online 2019 Jan 1. doi: 10.3390/nu11010070
  7. Murray, B. (2007). Hydration and Physical Performance. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 26(sup5), 542S–548S. doi:10.1080/07315724.2007.1071965