# How to stay hydrated in summer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048 "2013-07-09T15:51:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/1 "2013-07-09T15:51:06Z")
I don’t have AC leading me to sweat profusely all day long. I find Gatorade is very low in “real” electrolytes and its mostly just sugar. It’s also very acidic and gives me heartburn. Pedialite is good, high in real electrolytes and low in sugar and not too acidic but it’s $5.00 a bottle. Other there any other alternatives? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/2 "2013-07-09T15:52:23Z")
Is there a problem with tap water - along with fruits and vegetables? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/3 "2013-07-09T15:53:21Z")
Eat and drink. You’re not losing enough electrolytes that you can’t replace them with a decent diet. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/4 "2013-07-09T16:03:04Z")
I’m looking for any other drinks I may have missed. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/5 "2013-07-09T16:09:42Z")
My point, along with **Dinsdale** , is that you probably don’t need to worry about replacing electrolyes from drinks. If you’re worried about drinking enough fluids and don’t like water, then store-brand Crystal Light type powder is pretty cheap. So is the MiO liquid, which goes a long, long ways if you resist the urge to mix it too strong. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/6 "2013-07-09T16:09:57Z")
[Oral rehydration salts](http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Oral-Rehydration-Salts-Drink-(ORS)). Make your own (see step 5). Or just drink water. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/7 "2013-07-09T16:14:06Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I’m looking for any other drinks I may have missed. If you’re not sweating through exercise then any liquid will do; you don’t need electrolyte replacement. Tap water and an occasional snack will do just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/8 "2013-07-09T16:18:22Z")
In case the OP is one of those who just doesn’t like water, try iced tea, sans sugar if you want. Been used in the South for generations. Cheap to make and doesn’t taste like water. ETA: If you’ve got bad teeth, i.e. lack enamel, it can stain your teeth, but a lack of enamel is something you should take up with your dentist. It is slightly acidic but less so than a lot of other beverages. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/9 "2013-07-09T16:42:57Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > [Oral rehydration salts](http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Oral-Rehydration-Salts-Drink-(ORS)). Make your own (see step 5). > > Or just drink water. I don’t think the Oral rehydration salts are available to buy in the usa, the “make your own” version is a joke its just sugar and water, it has no potassium, zinc, bicarbonate or other things. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/10 "2013-07-09T16:47:05Z")
As said, water should be good enough for you. But you could also try [Nuun’s](http://www.nuun.com/products) (you can probably order them online). These are what I used for 2+ hours of cycling in warm weather, but it appears you can get ‘All day hydration’ tabs too, which might be what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/11 "2013-07-09T16:47:32Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I don’t think the Oral rehydration salts are available to buy in the usa, the “make your own” version is a joke its just sugar and water, it has no potassium, zinc, bicarbonate or other things. Why does it need any of those things? Rehydration involves getting water into your body and getting it to stay there. For that, you just need some sugar, a bit of table salt, and lots of water. It sounds like you have 2 goals here: hydration and vitamin therapy. You’ve gotten plenty of recommendations on staying hydrated - including the simplest solution of drinking lots of water. Is there any particular reason you believe you need electrolytic solutions? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/12 "2013-07-09T16:48:29Z")
I’m failing to see how a cheap generic multivitamin, washed down with a big glass of cold water, wouldn’t provide the same or even better. I also do not know what “real” electrolytes are (as opposed to … holograms?) so I’m not sure what you’re asking for. If you’re just sitting around in the heat (as opposed to, I dunno, training for the Olympics) then just worry about consuming enough water - the other minerals you need should be available from your average basic daily diet. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/13 "2013-07-09T17:00:56Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I don’t think the Oral rehydration salts are available to buy in the usa, the “make your own” version is a joke its just sugar and water, it has no potassium, zinc, bicarbonate or other things. Not a joke at all. “Just sugar (and salt) and water” is good enough to save thousands of lives that would otherwise be lost to dehydration across the developing world. It is very effective, and very cheap, and is recommended by the World Health Organization. If you’re sweating a lot you might need the extra salt, hence the ORS recipe. But you don’t need “electrolytes” that marketing guys want you to spend big bucks on. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/14 "2013-07-09T17:16:01Z")
I guess I’ll toss in here with the electrolyte joke. [Brawndo: The Thirst Mutilator. It’s got what plants crave!](http://www.brawndo.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/15 "2013-07-09T17:29:03Z")
You also can help hydration with the food you eat. “Wet” foods…watermelon, oranges…green peppers…can help. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/16 "2013-07-09T17:55:54Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > the “make your own” version is a joke its just sugar and water, it has no potassium, zinc, bicarbonate or other things. If you insist on having potassium, you can add some NoSalt, which is mostly potassium chloride. And inexpensive. Personally, I’d rather eat a banana and maybe some salty snack, and drink a lot of water. I haven’t had any problems with this approach even on 100-mile bike rides in \>90 degree weather. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/17 "2013-07-09T19:35:04Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > You also can help hydration with the food you eat. “Wet” foods..watermelon, oranges..green peppers..can help. I don’t eat vegetables or fruit ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/18 "2013-07-09T19:41:48Z")
Cheetos have lots of sodium. Mt. Dew has lots of sugar. Bam. You’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/19 "2013-07-09T19:42:34Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I don’t eat vegetables or fruit In which case you probably have more to worry about than the precise blend of electrolytes in your beverage. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048/20 "2013-07-09T19:54:47Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I don’t eat vegetables or fruit Choice or some medical necessity I’ve never heard of? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-summer/663048.md?page=2)