If you’ve ever felt like you’re drinking plenty of water but still don’t feel “truly hydrated,” you’re not alone. More and more people are revisiting a foundational idea: hydration isn’t just about water—it’s also about minerals.
In a recent conversation, Selina Delangre of Celtic Sea Salt® sat down with Arnell Calindas, a longtime nutrition researcher and wellness educator, to discuss the role of trace minerals, unrefined sea salt, and daily rituals that help support energy, digestion, and overall vitality.
Selina shares: For most of my life, I thought hydration was simple: drink more water. But over the years—through my own journey and decades working with Celtic Sea Salt®—I’ve come to understand something much deeper: Hydration isn’t just about water. It’s about minerals.
In a recent conversation with my longtime friend Arnell, we explored this idea from the ground up—starting with the origins of life itself, and what that might teach us about how our bodies function today.
What I’ve Learned About Trace Minerals
When Arnell and I started talking, he brought us all the way back to the beginning—to the ocean, where life first began. He asked a simple but powerful question: What is the common thread across all life—plants, animals, and humans? The answer is trace elements—what most of us call trace minerals.
That really resonated with me, because it reminded me of something Jacques Delangre, the founder of Celtic Sea Salt®, taught me when I was just 19 years old.
He explained that while trace minerals may be present in small amounts, they are incredibly important—not necessarily because they show up in large measurable quantities, but because they help support how everything in the body works together. That idea has stayed with me ever since.
Why “Whole” Matters More Than “Isolated”
One of the things Arnell and I both agree on is that nature doesn’t work in isolated pieces. Today, we’re often taught to think about nutrients individually—magnesium, potassium, calcium. But in nature, these elements don’t exist on their own. They exist in relationship with one another.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve always believed in unrefined sea salt. Not because it’s about getting a specific “dose” of a single mineral, but because it’s about keeping the natural composition intact—nothing added, nothing removed. To me, that’s what “whole” really means.
The Difference Between Unrefined Sea Salt and Table Salt
People often ask me: Isn’t all salt the same? From a taste standpoint, salt is salt. But from a sourcing and processing standpoint, there are meaningful differences. Celtic Sea Salt® is:
- Hand-harvested from coastal regions
- Dried naturally by sun and wind
- Moist, not stripped or refined
- Left in its natural state, with nothing added or removed
Over the years, I’ve learned that how salt is handled matters. High-heat processing and heavy refinement can change what’s naturally present. For me, it’s always been about preserving what nature created—not trying to improve it.
A Simple Morning Hydration Ritual I Use
One of the most practical things Arnell and I talked about was a simple morning ritual that I’ve started incorporating into my own routine. It’s incredibly simple:
My Morning Tonic
- 12 oz filtered water
- 1 teaspoon Living Nectar
- ½ teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt®
I shake it together and drink it first thing in the morning, before coffee or tea.
What I love about this is that it’s not complicated. It’s just: water + minerals + a whole-food source of natural glucose. That’s it.
Why This Combination Makes Sense to Me
When Arnell first explained the combination to me, it just clicked.
- The sea salt provides a spectrum of naturally occurring minerals
- The Living Nectar provides a whole-food source of glucose
- The water brings it all together
Instead of thinking about hydration as just “more water,” this approach is about supporting the body more completely.
I’ve had so many customers over the years tell me: “I drink water all day, but I still don’t feel hydrated.” And when they start adding minerals back in, something shifts.
What People Often Tell Me They Notice
I always want to be careful here, because everyone’s body is different.
Arnell shared a personal story that really stood out to me—he tested this combination during a long day of climbing without eating and felt steady the entire time.
That idea of consistent energy, rather than highs and lows, really resonates with me.
