Why do most folks get electrolyte replenishment via a beverage?
 

The electrolytes usually make the drink taste like a$$. Why not just take capsules with the electrolytes (like the ones from Hammer: Amazon.com: Hammer Nutrition Endurolytes- Electrolyte Replacement Supplement-Dietary Supplement, 120 Count: Sports & Outdoors) and drink whatever sweetened beverage you like for the carbs. That would have to taste better, no?

One problem I can see with the Hammer capsules is they have a fairly significant dosage of magnesium in them which plays havoc with my, umm, uh, "solid waste elimination processes". If I drink mineral water in Europe, the only sights I get to see are the bathroom tiles. Does anyone use electrolyte tablets or capsules with mostly sodium and potassium and very little or no magnesium. I would appreciate a recommendation.

I've never had a problem with the taste of Gatorade cut 50%. Pills seem like additional hassle.

I guess that's why this was invented...
Gatorade Releases New Performance Suppository | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Why do most folks get electrolyte replenishment via a beverage?


I have no idea. 24 years of cycling and the whole time my beverages have been a minor source of electrolyte replacement.


I prefer to eat something with electrolytes ... for example, salted almonds.
Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Nuts, almonds, dry roasted, with salt added

Common electrolytes include:And you'll notice from that link that salted almonds have a decent amount of sodium, then scroll down to the mineral list and they've got calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium. They've also got several other vitamins and minerals.


Potato chips are another good source of sodium and potassium.
Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Snacks, potato chips, plain, salted


Or if the ride is long and/or hot, I'll supplement with electrolyte pills.

I just mostly use the Hammer Endurolyte tabs because all of the drinks I've tried don't sit well on my stomach if I drink lots on longer rides. I have started using a new gel that has some electrolytes to supplement the tabs and kill two birds with one stone.

I like salted rims with my margaritas and salt in sports drinks tastes fine to me. I dilute 16 oz of Gatorade(etc) with 8 oz water and add 1/8 level tsp salt to the result aiming for a total of 250-350 mg sodium in hot weather. Another option I use diluting 100 cal of fruit juice to 24 oz and adding salt shooting for 250-350 gm per bottle.

You do need to drink adequate water with the salt so mixing them together makes it convenient. You can ingest them separately if you prefer.

I use Nutrilite ROC2O, which is a powdered drink that I just mix in my water bottles. Works for me.

Ingredients
Sucrose, Fructose, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Salt, Natural Flavors, Potassium Citrate, Red Orange Complex (Red Orange Juice Extract, Maltodextrin), Medium Chain Triglycerides

Nutritional Information
Serv. Size: 1/2 Stick Pack
Amount Per Serving:
- Calories 60
- Fat Cal. 0
- Total Fat 0 g (0% DV)
- Sat. Fat 0 g (0% DV)
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 g (0% DV)
- Sodium 110 mg (5% DV)
- Potassium 35 mg (1% DV)
- Total Carb. 14 g (5% DV)
- Fiber 0 g (0% DV)
- Sugars 13 g
- Protein 0 g
Vitamin A (0% DV), Vitamin C (0% DV), Calcium (0% DV), Iron (0% DV)
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

A drink is easier to deal with while riding then trying to take pills out of your pocket, count them out and put them into your mouth, and the electrolytes absorb faster into your system when already in solution. Those are the reasons for me. If you stop a lot, not a big deal for the first point, but also in drink form, you're constantly giving yourself a small amout of electrolytes instead of bombing your body with a big dose every x minutes. Main good points for the pills in my mind are that they don't go bad in heat in your pockets, and if you're riding somewhere where there is no Gatorade, etc. to refill, you have a portable solution.

Because some people are suckers for slick marketing.

You don't need electrolyte pills either. If it's a short ride, you don't need to replenish electrolytes. If it's a longer ride, you should get all the electrolytes you need from the snacks / food that you ought to be consuming during the ride.

I just use elete electrolyte add in and put a few drops in my water bottles.. Works great and the refill bottles last a long time.

https://store.healthsoluteions.com/e...refill-40.html

I don't think it's a gimmick as stated above.. I ride in daily temps that are in the 100 to 110 degree range in the summer..

Breaks up the monotony of drinking bottle after bottle of water. I went through 8 bottles yesterday. 6 water and 2 gatorade.

I sometimes use NUUN tablets, one per bottle of water. On very hot days, I scrape the salt off my face and recycle it. <only half kidding>

I also carry salty foods like almonds or beef jerky. Or dried fruit. If a zippy mart has them, I may grab a spicy hot V-8 in the small can. Sometimes it's those gummy gel blocks or beans. Variety is good.

Gatorade is crap. Can't believe anyone uses it as an actual sport drink when there are so many better options. Seems more a like a soda.

Try Scratch. Skratch Labs | Natural Hydration and Nutrition

Did that already, several canisters worth. Also Osmo. Of the two, Osmo is better but neither is really optimal for my gut in the long ru.

It depends on the kind of efforts you're doing. The combination of sugar, sodium and water is great when you're doing repeated high-intensity efforts like velodrome racing or the sport it was developed for.

People seem to forget that some of these things were developed by university sport programs for specific types of efforts.

taste better, probably, but i'm a big guy and if i actually follow the recommended dosage that Hammer suggests than i'd have to swallow 5 capsules an hour. thanks, but i'll pass on that, that's just way too much to worry about when i should be worrying about more important things like the moron in front of me making a right turn from the left lane while he's texting...

me personally, i usually just mix 3 or 4 scoops of their Edurolytes powder and 2 scoops of GENR8 powder for each bottle. i don't even notice the me saltiness of the Edurolytes, cause 2 scoops of the GENR8 is 160cc's of powder, which is a lot of powder and adds a pretty strong flavor that's hard to overpower. i also bring 6oz. plastic bottles with me filled with the powder mix, depending on how many hours i plan on being out on the road, for when i have to refill my bottles...

I know exactly what it was developed for and when. That doesn't change the fact that the current product is more about marketing. Kids drink it like soda. I know it contains sugar (though highly processed) and sodium needed during exercise but it also has artificial colors and flavors and for a long time was made with HFCS and BVO. While the current product is better than it was, there are simply better choices.

Any emergency physicians out there? How about E.R. nurses and P.A.'s??

When a patient comes in to Emergency Room, for suspected Heat Exhaustion, what is the protocol? Let's say its a middle age guy or lady.

true, even if it means simply using the powder form of it, which is definitely not as bad for you...

+1 Compared to many of the electrolyte supplement powders, Gatorade is crap. Look at the ingredients to compare.

I've used Heed, Cytomax and others, but they were either too sweet or gave me rot gut with plenty of gas the remainder of the day. I've been using Skratch (pinapple) the last month or so, and like the taste and very easy on the stomach. I prefer to drink my electrolytes, not take tablets, since I need to drink anyway to hydrate. Eating a banana or other food during the ride is ok, too, but don't like carrying too much in the pockets.

Not Applicable, because in the ER they'll put an IV in you and run fluids. But in Africa and other places where good medical equipment is not plentiful and readily available, they'll replace with an oral electrolyte solution (aka Gatorade or Pedialyte or whatever you want to call it)

Because the Gatorade Gum was gross. ;)

Why do most folks get electrolyte replenishment via a beverage?

Because the marketing people says so.

Brawndo; It's what plants crave.

Other than the small amount of food coloring, is it really much different than any other drink like the one you recommended? I highly doubt there would be any difference in performance. So the short answer to your question is: people use it because it works well for it's intended purpose.