little late posting this....

I swear by Emer'Gen'C. I put a packet into each nalgene after giving the purification tabs to do their thing. Electrolytes, vitamin C (I think the C stands for crack, a dose of it always improves my mood), A, B-complex, and just enough sugar for your body to actually be able to use it.

The only use I have for gatoraid anymore is for "wake-wake juice"- pout a packet of Emer'gen'c into a nalgene bottle, then a 12oz can of Mt Dew, and a 20oz bottle of organe gatorade. You are painfully awake in about 20 minutes, but if you use it to wash down a couple asprin, the hangover starts to go away.

Sorry, it's that No-Salt or Salt Substitute, potassium chloride. Here is a recipe similar to what i used to do, though i cut the sugar a lot. I think the only reason for the sugar is extra calories and something about assisting absorption that i can't remember....

http://www.recipezaar.com/93652

For what it worth, I am big fan of Sqwincher.

Sqwincher

Our rescue team carries the SQWINCHER FAST PACK® in all of our packs to mix with water.

SQWINCHER FAST PACK®

Pete

Interesting. Never heard of Sqwincher before. Briefly skimmed their website just now and it looks like they market themselves specifically at workers, not athletes or the general public. Interesting strategy.

How's the taste, Pete? Salty? Sweet?

Just a word on potassium chloride. If you're on a low salt diet for whatever reason, KCl can cause some kindey problems down the road if you overdo it to the extent that you (probably) used regular sodium chloride.

Anyway, just ask a doctor about any problems you may have with it, so you don't end up hyperkalemic or something else.

I have had the fruit punch, lemon-lime and grape, all have a sweet taste.

Pete

Rehydration formulas

ELECTROLYTE AND FLUID REPLACEMENT

- Dr. Orient's Recipe


Here is a good little life saver that you might be interested in.

One teaspoon of "Lite Salt"(by Morton, 1/2 iodized potassium
chloride, 1/2 sodium chloride in a blue cylinder), 1/3 teaspoon
of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), 10 teaspoons of table sugar
(sucrose), and one quart of water.

That happens to be a life saving fluid replacement and partial
electrolyte expedient replacement. At least it is expedient if
you have had the foresight to purchase the above three items
BEFORE an emergency happens while it is readily available and
very cheap.

Many people die in times of emergency because of fluid losses.
This can be from burns, vomiting, or diarrhea. The body needs
water and certain water soluable chemicals to function.

If either or both of these drop below a certain level, you die.
There are many non-fatal diseases like cholera that become fatal
due to lack of simple things like proper fluid replacement.

If you have ever had a bad case of diarrhea and start to have
pain in your muscles or joints, congratulations, you have had the
early warning symptoms of a potassium
deficiency.

For ease of purchasing the items for Dr. Orient's formula, Morton
Lite Salt comes in a 11 oz. light blue cylinder. Baking soda a 1
or 4 pound box. Sugar 5, 10, or 25 pound sack.

To make approximately 300 quarts of the solution you need 5 - 11
oz. units of Morton's Lite salt, 1 - 1 pound box of baking soda,
and 25 pounds of sugar.

And some more modern ones
http://www.mettag.com/pdf/tacda/medical_hydration_pencilings.pdf
http://www.ifyoudive.com/Health/DanTips/?Target=_top

Good heavens! If I drank that I'd have to double my intake of Toprol (blood pressure/angina med) to get my heart rate back to normal. It does remind me of my college days when I kept a stash of snickers bars and Jolt Cola for the late nite study sessions.

If you're going to use a hydration bag you might look at the CamelBak Elixir tablets. They don't contain any sugars that can make your hydration bag a sticky mess. You can get the needed sugars from a power bar or Snickers candy bar.

CamelBak Elixir Review

smitty

LOL! Where do you think I learned this?

Scary is someone taking Ballz (it's blue, with way more caffiene and guanaria (sp) than is sane) and mixing it with some more sugar, Gookinaid and protein powders!! Little guy, maybe 5'6", skinny as a rail, and he'd be hyper all day. I swear you could take his pulse by watching him.