Drinking beverages that contain electrolytes can both rehydrate you quicker than plain water and it can keep you feeling hydrated longer than plain water.
“In general, water should be sufficient hydration for a regular workout, but electrolyte drinks are beneficial in high intensity workouts in warm environments, regardless of duration,” says Dr. Sprague.
Staying hydrated is so important on a daily basis, but even more so when it's hot and kids are so active! I've written a post about hydration here before because it's just so important. Anyway, moving on, Hydralyte have released a whole bunch of Electrolyte products for rehydration that you can use everyday.
The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
Is it OK to drink electrolytes every day? You can drink electrolytes every day (or choose to consume a supplement instead). This is especially necessary if you exercise and/or sweat often. Electrolytes will help replace minerals, such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium, that are lost when you sweat or get sick.
Powerade features drinks with zero calories and sugar but that offer added electrolytes and vitamins. So which energy drink is the better all-around choice? Gatorade and Powerade have equal carbohydrate content and nearly equal electrolyte content, although Powerade is slightly higher in vitamins.
Intravenous rehydration (IV injection, or “drip”)
The fastest method for rehydrating patients is the medical technique of intravenous (IV) fluid replacement. This sends electrolyte-balanced fluids directly into the blood stream so it gets distributed by your blood cells throughout the body almost immediately.
Water is your best bet for everyday hydration, since it is free of sugar, calories, and caffeine. All of your daily food and beverages contribute to your daily fluid needs.
Look for an electrolyte powder that has natural sweeteners and is low in sugar. Sugar will only increase the number of calories within the drink and this can be problematic for those who are also looking to lose weight.
Fruit juice
Cherry, watermelon and orange juice are good sources of electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, says Lisa Jones, a registered dietitian based in Philadelphia. "One hundred percent fruit juice also contributes high amounts of vitamins and antioxidants," Jones says.
Drinking too much water, can cause the electrolyte levels in the body to get out of whack and cause sodium levels plummet. The nerve and heart issues that occur with over-hydration can be deadly.
But just like anything, too many electrolytes can be unhealthy: Too much sodium, formally referred to as hypernatremia, can cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Too much potassium, known as hyperkalemia, can impact your kidney function and cause heart arrhythmia, nausea, and an irregular pulse.
Pedialyte is the recommended beverage of choice for the elderly. Gatorade is a sports drink that's meant to restore electrolytes after exercise, but Pedialyte can renew electrolytes lost from exercise and other means, such as sweating, diarrhea, or fever.
Conclusion on Best Electrolyte Supplement
Despite the slightly higher price, Berocca contains the highest quality ingredients list compared to some of its other counterparts like Voost, Nuun and Hydralyte, with 12 essential vitamins and minerals in each tablet.
Hydralyte electrolyte solutions contain 75 percent less sugar and four times the electrolytes than the leading sports drinks, which means that you'll get all of the health benefits of electrolytes without any unwanted ingredients.