# If no regular liquids were avaiable for years, could one remain healthy on watermelon, grapes,... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2019, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540 "2019-08-12T06:28:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/21 "2019-08-14T02:23:12Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Most fruit are mostly water, so obviously, the answer is yes. I took a nutrition class in college. The one fact the professor insisted everybody know: the most prevalent nutrient in a steak is…water. Point being that hydration wouldn’t just be coming from fruit sources. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/22 "2019-08-14T05:21:35Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’m thinking that perhaps modern watermelon/grapes might have too much sugar. > > I know that there is a level which is “too much”, where you can’t replace fluid loss by drinking sweet drinks. And I /think/ that grape juice might be approaching that level, but I’ll have to look it up, or wait for someone to correct me. The “too much sugar” thing would be a concern, but you’d definitely want to consume the whole fruit vs juicing it - not sure why anyone would thing juicing it was necessary. If you eat the fruit, you’re getting a lot of fiber etc. which will somewhat offset the sugars (net carbs and all that). I suspect overall you’ll get far less sugar than in equivalent volumes of sugary soft drinks. I imagine if you ate enough fruit to give you several quarts of liquid it might pose an issue - but then you’re likely eating less of other calorie-dense food (since you simply don’t have room in your stomach), which might lead to weight loss, which might help your body in processing the sugar it DOES get. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/23 "2019-08-16T00:18:38Z")
How about absorption rates? for a healthy young adult, what effect does 14% suger have on absorption rates? And f you have someone who is acutely dehydrated (cholera), lacking a standard electrolyte mix, would you give grape juice, or grape juice cut with distilled water? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/24 "2019-08-16T13:21:59Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > How about absorption rates? for a healthy young adult, what effect does 14% suger have on absorption rates? > > And f you have someone who is acutely dehydrated (cholera), lacking a standard electrolyte mix, would you give grape juice, or grape juice cut with distilled water? Without looking up figures for absorption etc., I do recall reading that electrolyte solutions are less sugary than “regular” drinks - so I’d personally lean toward diluted grape juice, ideally spiked with a pinch of salt. [Cite:](https://www.insider.com/drinks-that-cause-dehydration-2018-10) > [@](#): > > **Fruit juices, along with other drinks with a high sugar content can inhibit the body from absorbing the water it needs.** > > Although sports drinks are helpful because of their source of electrolytes and sodium, which help replenish hydration, fruit juice doesn’t have enough sodium. which supports my WAG. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/25 "2019-08-16T18:54:01Z")
Sports drink usually have a small amout of sugar. They’ve done experiments and found that a certain amount of sugar gives the best absorption of water. The amount is too small to taste and much less than what’s in fruit juice. For electrolytes, sodium is not the only one the body needs, although it needs more of that than the others. The others are potassium, magnesium, and calcium. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/26 "2019-08-17T02:48:47Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Sports drink usually have a small amout of sugar. They’ve done experiments and found that a certain amount of sugar gives the best absorption of water. The amount is too small to taste and much less than what’s in fruit juice. > > For electrolytes, sodium is not the only one the body needs, although it needs more of that than the others. The others are potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Gatorade has a craptonne of sugar. 31g in 16 oz, a Cola has 39g in 12 oz. Watermelon has _about_ the same as Gatorade. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/27 "2019-08-17T03:23:25Z")
And the sugar in sports drinks mostly isn’t there because you need it; it’s there because they taste terrible without it. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/28 "2019-08-17T04:38:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Gatorade has a craptonne of sugar. 31g in 16 oz, a Cola has 39g in 12 oz. Watermelon has _about_ the same as Gatorade. Well, yes I should have qualified that as Real™ sportsdrinks. Gatorade may have started as one, but it’s now just another soft drink that pretends to be a sportsdrink. Ditto for Powerade. > [@Chronos](#): > > And the sugar in sports drinks mostly isn’t there because you need it; it’s there because they taste terrible without it. The stuff I drink has it there because of the reason I said. They even cited some sports medicine paper on the subject right on the label. Well, at least they used to. They added some stevia a while back (and for all I know, more sugar) and I called up to complain. I thought the stuff was made by a small company, but I got the P&G call center. So it’s probably on the way the the dark side. At any rate, it never tasted terrible even before the stevia. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/29 "2019-08-17T05:50:10Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The stuff I drink has it there because of the reason I said. They even cited some sports medicine paper on the subject right on the label. Well, at least they used to. They added some stevia a while back (and for all I know, more sugar) and I called up to complain. I thought the stuff was made by a small company, but I got the P&G call center. So it’s probably on the way the the dark side. At any rate, it never tasted terrible even before the stevia. Is that Gookinaid E.R.G.? Or something with even less sugar? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/30 "2019-08-17T06:41:27Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Is that Gookinaid E.R.G.? Or something with even less sugar? It’s Cytomax, if you must know. And I just looked at the label and found that its contents have changed a good deal from the last time I did. It used to have various amino acids and short peptide chains and only a little sugar, with scientific citations about how these contribute to performance and hydration. Now it’s all various kinds of carbohydrates, half of which are sugars. I may need to change my brand of sports drink. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/31 "2019-08-17T12:08:37Z")
“Various amino acids and short peptide chains” sounds to me like they were making it taste good with artificial sweeteners, instead of using sugar. Aspartame is a dipeptide. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/32 "2019-08-17T17:43:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Various amino acids and short peptide chains” sounds to me like they were making it taste good with artificial sweeteners, instead of using sugar. Aspartame is a dipeptide. Googling, I found they did replace an artificial sweetener (acesulfame potassium) with stevia. But I’m pretty sure there were other amino acid/peptides mentioned on the label before. Note: it also has crystalline fructose, which is a sugar derived from corn, so I’m not sure why it needs the stevia. Anyway, I mix it at less than half the strength they recommend, so I’m not getting the 12g of added sugar the label says it has. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/33 "2019-08-28T17:10:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And the sugar in sports drinks mostly isn’t there because you need it; it’s there because they taste terrible without it. Even _with_ it… well, re Pedialyte, which isn’t a sports drink per se but IS intended to help replenish electrolytes. When Dweezil was about 3 he developed some stomach crud, and I dutifully bought him some Pedialyte. Even with the sugars in it, he wouldn’t drink it. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/34 "2019-08-28T18:00:52Z")
I am highly suspicious that if the only hydration you got was from eating fruit, you’d get pretty bad diarrhea. At least for me. I eat a shit load of fruit and don’t have a fun time. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/35 "2019-08-29T15:08:29Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I am highly suspicious that if the only hydration you got was from eating fruit, you’d get pretty bad diarrhea. At least for me. I eat a shit load of fruit and don’t have a fun time. If you’re eating other stuff as well, that might reduce the diarrhea risk. Also as your body adjusts to things - e.g. if you ate that much fruit every day - it might become less of a problem. And of course there is some water in other things as well - even in most protein foods. Most days I don’t drink anywhere near “enough” by the 64-ounce-a-day recommendation, sometimes I’ll nurse a 20 ounce drink all day. And yet there’s always some degree of output. I assume the difference is based on other things I consume. Going back to the cholera question (grape juice straight up or diluted): if the only source for water to dilute it is suspect, and you have no way of boiling it, would the straight juice be a better choice? Or would the water pose no further danger if the person already _has_ cholera? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/36 "2019-08-29T22:01:51Z")
You would very likely become a Type-II diabetic by drinking nothing but fruit juice or eating watermelons for hydration. Not only is it super high in glycemic index, but it would amount to perhaps 200 grams of sugar every day. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/37 "2019-08-30T11:16:10Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > You would very likely become a Type-II diabetic by drinking nothing but fruit juice or eating watermelons for hydration. Not only is it super high in glycemic index, but it would amount to perhaps 200 grams of sugar every day. Could we please stop this? That’s not how you ‘’‘get’‘’ type II. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/38 "2019-08-30T11:37:35Z")
I drink at least two liters of pure water every day. It doesn’t matter that I eat fruit, drink coffee, etc. I have to have that pure water to feel really good. Our bodies are basically 3/4 water. I have to think pure water is a daily must. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/39 "2019-08-30T17:01:17Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I drink at least two liters of pure water every day. It doesn’t matter that I eat fruit, drink coffee, etc. I have to have that pure water to feel really good. Our bodies are basically 3/4 water. I have to think pure water is a daily must. No, it is not a must. There are animals out there who never drink pure water. They get all the water from the food they eat. And their bodies are just as high a percentage of H[sub]2[/sub]O as human’s. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540/40 "2019-08-30T19:44:35Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > No, it is not a must. There are animals out there who never drink pure water. They get all the water from the food they eat. And their bodies are just as high a percentage of H[sub]2[/sub]O as human’s. Plus water is filthy, potentially harboring all kinds of nasty gut germs, and let’s not even get into what the fish do in it. Eat your fruit, flush your water, and drink Brawndo for the lectrolites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-no-regular-liquids-were-avaiable-for-years-could-one-remain-healthy-on-watermelon-grapes/838540.md?page=1)