I recently went to Mexico and the tour group included "electrolytes" on the packing list, I assumed so you didn't have to scramble if you developed digestive issues. Imagine my surprise when it was almost impossible to find any without stevia, which has a laxative effect on many people. Just give me sugar! We're not all on a diet!
Agree! Also -- proper absorption requires glucose, Stevia doesn't do the drink. I think it's probably a red flag when an electrolyte drink contains Stevia!
This was very helpful - thank you! One aspect I'd love to see addressed is the risk of hyponatremia. In the last 2 years, 2 people I know have been hospitalized with it. One was my stepmother, who contracted Covid, was very sick (although not with vomiting or diarrhea - just sick enough not to be eating), and kept drinking water because she thought she needed to stay hydrated. She ended up in critical care at a hospital for a week with dangerously low sodium levels. The other was the mother in my kid's class - a fitness fiend. Don't know the specifics there, but also ended up hospitalized as a result of drinking too much water. It's a bit of a divergence, but would be useful to explain that not only do we not need so much water, but it can actually be quite harmful.
Wow, those stories are crazy! I have definitely heard of people drinking too much water during e.g. marathons and triathlons and ending up with this issue. Scary.
Thank you for this article!!! I’ve bought electrolyte packs for traveling specifically, since I tend to drink a lot less water on the go than at home, and I’m always paying attention to the sodium content. 1,000mg of sodium is nuts, and I see it all the time! Would love a list of lower sodium packs for these kinds of circumstances. I like DripDrop and I’m trying Hydrant next, but always curious to see what else is out there! (I have Only nutrition and Ultima on the docket)
Desperately needed this explainer (as Jane knows). Just happy it's one less thing I need to buy/work on. Most of my friends say electrolyte packets help them drink more water, but yeah not seeing that it's worth the high artificial sweetener or sodium trade off. Also, lol'ed at the Delia's model mention. Thank you Liz!
Thanks for the bit on Blood Pressure. I was putting Nuun in my husband’s water to get him to drink water!! Not a good idea-as we are also working on lowering his Blood Pressure!
Curious if there's any truth to LMNT's claims that the FDA's guidance on sodium intake is flawed, and that actually some studies are suggesting that more salt could be helpful? (e.g. https://science.drinklmnt.com/electrolytes/the-fdas-misguidance-on-sodium/). Is this just marketing hype or could our dogma about salt be wrong? How reliable are these studies they're quoting? Would love to see you dig into it!
I should dig into these studies! It's going on my list. In the meantime, one thing to consider is that taking aim at FDA guidance is kind of a straw man, because the average American takes in 3,400 mg of sodium per day -- vastly in excess of the FDA limit. No serious nutritionist I've spoken to thinks that, at least for some people, that amount of salt is healthy.
I recently went to Mexico and the tour group included "electrolytes" on the packing list, I assumed so you didn't have to scramble if you developed digestive issues. Imagine my surprise when it was almost impossible to find any without stevia, which has a laxative effect on many people. Just give me sugar! We're not all on a diet!
Agree! Also -- proper absorption requires glucose, Stevia doesn't do the drink. I think it's probably a red flag when an electrolyte drink contains Stevia!
And I’d say having electrolytes on the list is just in case you get Montezuma’s Revenge!
This was very helpful - thank you! One aspect I'd love to see addressed is the risk of hyponatremia. In the last 2 years, 2 people I know have been hospitalized with it. One was my stepmother, who contracted Covid, was very sick (although not with vomiting or diarrhea - just sick enough not to be eating), and kept drinking water because she thought she needed to stay hydrated. She ended up in critical care at a hospital for a week with dangerously low sodium levels. The other was the mother in my kid's class - a fitness fiend. Don't know the specifics there, but also ended up hospitalized as a result of drinking too much water. It's a bit of a divergence, but would be useful to explain that not only do we not need so much water, but it can actually be quite harmful.
Wow, those stories are crazy! I have definitely heard of people drinking too much water during e.g. marathons and triathlons and ending up with this issue. Scary.
Thank you for this well researched info and giving me a clear reason to not buy the electrolyte powder they are pushing at the gym!
Thank you for this article!!! I’ve bought electrolyte packs for traveling specifically, since I tend to drink a lot less water on the go than at home, and I’m always paying attention to the sodium content. 1,000mg of sodium is nuts, and I see it all the time! Would love a list of lower sodium packs for these kinds of circumstances. I like DripDrop and I’m trying Hydrant next, but always curious to see what else is out there! (I have Only nutrition and Ultima on the docket)
It seems like a lot of people do use Electrolyes as a way to make water more appealing! What about mixing in a bit of fruit juice instead...?
Yeah great idea!
Desperately needed this explainer (as Jane knows). Just happy it's one less thing I need to buy/work on. Most of my friends say electrolyte packets help them drink more water, but yeah not seeing that it's worth the high artificial sweetener or sodium trade off. Also, lol'ed at the Delia's model mention. Thank you Liz!
I think we should rename Consumed "One Less Thing You Need to Buy" :) :)
Thanks for the bit on Blood Pressure. I was putting Nuun in my husband’s water to get him to drink water!! Not a good idea-as we are also working on lowering his Blood Pressure!
Miss you guys! Give John Spindrift instead!
Curious if there's any truth to LMNT's claims that the FDA's guidance on sodium intake is flawed, and that actually some studies are suggesting that more salt could be helpful? (e.g. https://science.drinklmnt.com/electrolytes/the-fdas-misguidance-on-sodium/). Is this just marketing hype or could our dogma about salt be wrong? How reliable are these studies they're quoting? Would love to see you dig into it!
I should dig into these studies! It's going on my list. In the meantime, one thing to consider is that taking aim at FDA guidance is kind of a straw man, because the average American takes in 3,400 mg of sodium per day -- vastly in excess of the FDA limit. No serious nutritionist I've spoken to thinks that, at least for some people, that amount of salt is healthy.