Dr. Sibyl Baladi and the Science of Hydration

In a world where health advice often feels contradictory or oversimplified, Dr. Sibyl Baladi has chosen a different path: grounding well-being in science while making it accessible to everyday life. Born in Switzerland and trained in Geneva, she earned a PhD in biochemistry, specializing in the study of proteins through advanced analytical methods. Her career quickly led her across borders and disciplines. From postdoctoral research in protein crystallization at Berkeley to senior roles in biotech and pharmaceutical companies in Texas, on the East Coast, in Denmark, and at Bayer in Germany, she has always pursued one question: how science can improve human health and longevity.

Eventually, this quest pushed her beyond the corporate world. Combining her expertise in protein science with a growing fascination for preventive health, Dr. Baladi founded her own startup. Its mission: to develop innovative tests for measuring hydration levels in the body and new methods to restore balance where traditional advice falls short. Hydration, she insists, is far more complex than the simple mantra of “drink more water.” Despite its crucial role in aging and chronic conditions, it remains underexplored in public health and research.

This conviction led her to write Hydratez-vous!, first published in January 2025. The book addresses a striking reality: nearly half of the world’s population does not drink the recommended amount of fluids, and most people live in a state of chronic dehydration. To respond to this, she designed a natural and easy-to-follow hydration method based not on how much water we drink, but on when we drink it. This innovative yet simple routine optimizes the body’s absorption of water and reduces the discomfort that often discourages people—such as frequent bathroom trips during the day or night.

Hydratez-vous! explores the medical and financial benefits of this approach, discusses the pros and cons of different types of drinking water, and sheds light on diseases linked to dehydration. Above all, it emphasizes that hydration is for everyone, especially older adults and those facing chronic conditions. Or, as she puts it in the book: “S’hydrater, c’est vivre ! Vivre, c’est s’hydrater !”

What makes her approach resonate is not only the science but also the stories. She recalls presenting her method in senior centers and seeing tangible results: a man in his seventies, suffering from a degenerative eye condition, noticing improvement in his vision just weeks after adopting her hydration protocol; her own sister in Switzerland, living with Parkinson’s disease, experiencing reduced symptoms and renewed energy. These personal transformations illustrate the potential of a field still in its infancy.

For Dr. Baladi, inspiration lies in helping people live better, longer, and with dignity. She believes that nutrition and exercise matter, but hydration is the often-forgotten third pillar of health. “Chronic diseases linked to aging are not inevitable,” she explains. “We can act on them, and hydration plays a central role.” Her path to the Alliance Française of Silicon Valley came almost by chance. A small French bookstore near her home in Berkeley stocked her book, and its owner suggested she reach out to local Alliances. Connections with Charlotte in Berkeley and Cindy in San Francisco followed, opening doors for presentations and discussions with the Francophone community.

At the upcoming event hosted by the Alliance Française, Dr. Baladi hopes to leave the public with a simple yet powerful message: hydration is not just a matter of drinking water, but a key to overall health and well-being. She wants attendees to walk away curious, inspired, and empowered to rethink their daily habits.

For her, science is not confined to laboratories and journals. It belongs in conversations, in homes, and in the hands of those who can benefit from it the most. With Hydratez-vous!, Dr. Sibyl Baladi is not only sharing knowledge—she is building a bridge between research and everyday life, between longevity and quality of life.