I found something interesting regarding dehydration in an article by Brent Blue, M.D. "[Electrolyte powder] is particularly good for fluid replacement for diarrhea, and for treating dehydration due to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Plain water is next best choice." -- http://www.aeromedix.com/aeromedix_articles/medkit/index.html

After rereading it, I realized I took it out of context. Oral Rehydration Salts is for treating dehydration "due to heat exhaustion" not due to a limited supply of water.

Jeanette Isabelle

For limited H2O intake, it probably doesn't really matter much one way or the other. 1/2 strength Gatorade makes a good oral dehydration solution. Mix twice the volume of water or 1/2 the quantity of powder. Cheaper and tatters than most commercial ORS. Especially Ceralyte - yuck!

I carry a roll of Nuun in my bag. I like the form factor -- makes for easy storage.

I recall watching a video -- I think it was part of the Talks @ Google lecture series which covered heat exhaustion and dehydration and they talked about what to look for in a drink electrolyte supplement.

After that, I went out looked at different supplements and found Gookinaid Hydralyte (now Vitalyte) matched their requirements.

Lately I haven't found it in the stores and so have been getting Nuun which looks pretty close and is available at my local REI.

I really wish I could find that video. It had some real good coverage about heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, etc. It was sort of hiking medical oriented.

-john

As an aside.

If the interest is in quickly treating dehydration, I think plain water is preferable to a drink with ORS.
Referencing Cody Lundin's "When all Hell Breaks Loose"..

Plain water passes much more quickly to the large intestine where it is absorbed by the body. Water mixed with ORS causes the stomach to treat it as food, delaying the liquid from reaching the large intestine and rehydrating the body.

After I complete a vigorous MMA training session in our relatively warm DOJO, I find drinking water to help much better than a commercial ORS. I believe another poster indicated the same.

For years I have been cutting Gatorade fluid 50-50 with water, getting the electrolyte concentration roughly down to that of what was then Gookinaide. This was based on an article in Runner's World which stated that the relatively high concentration in Gatorade impeded absorption of fluids.


On a hike many years ago in Arizona, I drank water regularly, but acquired a pounding headache. At the end of the day, I ate some salted pretzels - manna from heaven! I reviewed my diet for that day and realize that, quite by random, it had been entirely salt free.

Running distances, I cannot tolerate full strength Gatorade, but either dilute Gatorade or Gookinade goes down very well.

When I am doing my ironman distance triathlons, (just did Vineman 140.6 last week in Sonoma County, CA), I usually cut the Gatorade they hand out run aid stations with 50% water or pour it over ice letting it melt.

YMMV, but for me but putting different types of sugar in my gut, digesting at different intervals, plus the constant movement, gives me some GI distress so I try to keep stuff light.

So it sounds like it is best to initially start with just water to allow for quicker absorbtion. Then follow up with some sugar/salt electrolyte type drink to replace what was lost.

The main use of ORS is for diarrhea. The pioneers of the 1800s certainly could have used it. It wasn't the cholera that killed them, the dehydration got them first. The disease caused people to have diarrhea in the quantities of two to five GALLONS a day.

Water and other fluids after heavy blood loss just keep your blood pressure up. It doesn't replace the need for whole blood, the red blood cells of which carry oxygen to the brain and other organs.

When I had heavy blood loss (5 units replaced), I think they were giving me fluids as well as blood.

Sue

Mike, only speaking for myself and probably doing a disservice to the ORS thread, I am not a medical professional or scientist. I'm a simple guy & endurance athlete. The rule of thumb, (heck it's probably science based) is to stick with water for the first hour of endurance activity, if longer than that switch to something that puts electrolytes back into your system AND water. Many of us also supplement with an electrolyte tablet, like endurolytes or sportslegs, when going for multi hour runs and rides.

When you're done with a run or ride over 60 minutes, immediately replenish with coldest beer possible.

Comms,

Great advice... Esp about the beer!

Mike