allium ~
Sorry, I forgot to address your question about the electrolytes abandoning ship...
I don't think you need to worry about pirates attacking your bodyship, hoisting the kicking and screaming electrolytes and carrying them off to some wayward island but I heard a doctor address the issue of the importance of water at a health conference I attended.
He said that caffeine is dehydrating and we need to add a glass of water for every cup of coffee or caffeinated tea product we drink.
He said that drinking chilled water burns more calories than drinking room temp water. Our body has to work harder to deal with the cold water.
I suppose every one is
running for the freezer now to grab a 10 pound bag of ice to chill their water and hooking up to a thermo-caloric measuring device to see if a
gazillionith of a calorie is burned up as they
guzzle a gallon of 33 degree water...