# lemonade or water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142 "2000-07-28T02:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/1 "2000-07-28T02:09:10Z")
i was arguing with some workpeople yesterday. we were really thirsty, and after acquiring some water, one of them exclaimed **"there’s nothing better than water."** i immediately replied with **“lemonade is.”** i said this because i prefer lemonade, i do. man, lemonade is good. but anyway… this evolved into a discussion about which would keep you alive longer, water or lemonade. i figured lemonade would, considering it gives you both water and some sugars, etc. they were adamant that water would keep you alive longer, because it is pure water. they compared lemonade to coffee, saying it would dehydrate you. which would keep you alive longer, then? ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/2 "2000-07-28T02:16:00Z")
The situation is that you get to intake NOTHING except unlimited quantities of water, with or without sugar and lemon added? Or can you make your lemonade any way you want it…like by adding a little iodized salt and other minor ingredients? ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/3 "2000-07-28T02:19:45Z")
you are chained to a restaurant stool. you can only drink bottled spring water or some average bottled lemonade. which would keep you alive the longest? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/4 "2000-07-28T02:20:25Z")
Since I would die in a few months anyway, I’m going with Lemonaide. Man I love lemonaide. Wait, are we talking American lemonaide or British? My friend works at a sports bar in Orlando and he gets a lot of English customers. Whenever they order a ‘lemonaide’ he gives them a 7up or Sprite because that is really what they are asking for. What’s up with that?? ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/5 "2000-07-28T02:25:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kilgore Trout \* > \*\*you are chained to a restaurant stool. > > you can only drink bottled spring water or some average bottled lemonade. > > which would keep you alive the longest? > \*\* I’m going with the average bottled lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/6 "2000-07-28T02:38:42Z")
“average bottled lemonade?” eeeyuw. But on a hot summer day, I agree with Bear\_Nenno: Brother, there ain’t nuthin’ like an ice cold glass of real fresh-squeezed lemonade…mmmmmm…uhh, purely scientifically, of course. ---
**Author:** ![jessicala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jessicala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessicala)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/7 "2000-07-28T02:40:29Z")
Hmm. The advantage to the lemonade, one would think, would be that you were getting some Vitamin C along with the water. Then again, if it does dehydrate you like the OP said, maybe not. Now, if I could get a Mike’s Hard Lemonade (hey, it comes in a bottle) instead, I think I’d take that. If I’ve gotta be chained to a stool, I might as well have a buzz on. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/8 "2000-07-28T02:40:42Z")
I’d like to know more about this “chained to the restaurant stool” thing. 😉 I’d say lemonade would keep you alive longer. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2000, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/9 "2000-07-28T07:04:50Z")
It’ll take a little more lemonade to provide the same amount of thirst-quenching as water, since it’s the water that’s actually helping thirst, and lemonade isn’t pure water. On the other hand, except for strong alcoholic beverages, most beverages are over 90% water anyway, so unless they contain caffeine or some other drug which affects the kidneys or sweat glands, they’re almost as good as water. Further, with the lemonade, you’re getting some other stuff like citric acid and sugar, not to mention possibly enjoying it more. ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/10 "2000-07-28T07:28:14Z")
yeah, i’m guessing that the salt content of a lemon isn’t that high. so although it’s not pure water, the lemonade shouldn’t make you that much thirstier. the sugar and other good stuff in the lemonade will probably keep you alive longer. and even if it did kill you sooner, man what a way to go. \* mmmmmm\*, lemonade. and at least you wouldn’t die of scurvy. ye mangey limey. arrrr. ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/11 "2000-07-28T09:01:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jb\_farley \* > \*_yeah, i’m guessing that the salt content of a lemon isn’t that high. so although it’s not pure water, the lemonade shouldn’t make you that much thirstier. the sugar and other good stuff in the lemonade will probably keep you alive longer. and even if it did kill you sooner, man what a way to go. \* mmmmmm_, lemonade. > > and at least you wouldn’t die of scurvy. ye mangey limey. arrrr. \*\* While the salt content of a LEMON isn’t that high, I’ll bet you can find ‘average bottled lemonade’ with a little sodium. But after three months of being chained to a stool in a diner (by now long out of business), I imagine the flies would be a little thick. I’m guessing you could eat enough of them to survive…if you wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/12 "2000-07-28T12:39:38Z")
there is no such thing as “pure water”. being a universal solvent, water contains all kinds of stuff dissolved in it (and some not-dissolved stuff too) ---
**Author:** ![lunapark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/278dde/32.png) [@lunapark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lunapark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/13 "2000-07-28T13:13:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JayLa \* > \*\* > Now, if I could get a Mike’s Hard Lemonade (hey, it comes in a bottle) instead, I think I’d take that. If I’ve gotta be chained to a stool, I might as well have a buzz on. 😃 \*\* Mmmmmmm, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Yumm ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/14 "2000-07-28T13:18:46Z")
I’d go with the lemonaide, mostly because I think it WOULDN’T keep me alive the longest. Who would want a long life of being chained to a bar stool? But if I had my druthers, I’d have that half and half ice tea/lemonaide. Damn, that stuff is good. Mmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/15 "2000-07-28T13:24:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > \*\*Since I would die in a few months anyway, I’m going with Lemonaide. Man I love lemonaide. > Wait, are we talking American lemonaide or British? My friend works at a sports bar in Orlando and he gets a lot of English customers. Whenever they order a ‘lemonaide’ he gives them a 7up or Sprite because that is really what they are asking for. What’s up with that?? \*\* Here in the UK lemonade is just lemon soda. 7up or Sprite are the nearest equivalents in the US that I know of. IMHO the unavailability of ‘real’ lemonade is one of the few major downsides to living here compared to the US ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/16 "2000-07-28T14:14:22Z")
> [@](#): > > IMHO the unavailability of ‘real’ lemonade is one of the few major downsides to living here compared to the US Don’t they have lemons there? Can’t you, I don’t know, **make** some lemonade? ---
**Author:** ![mothra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@mothra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mothra)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/17 "2000-07-28T14:20:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ticker \* > > Here in the UK lemonade is just lemon soda. 7up or Sprite are the nearest equivalents in the US that I know of. IMHO the unavailability of ‘real’ lemonade is one of the few major downsides to living here compared to the US ☹ \*\* The inavailability of guns being a major upside then? Make your own damn lemonade, anyway. It’s not so difficult. Finding a day hot enough to drink it is another matter. Having said that, it’s 81 degrees here in Leeds at the moment… man, I could do with a Lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/18 "2000-07-28T14:42:19Z")
Citris juices stimulate the bladder causing you to pee more. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/19 "2000-07-28T14:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ZenBeam \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > IMHO the unavailability of ‘real’ lemonade is one of the few major downsides to living here compared to the US > > Don’t they have lemons there? Can’t you, I don’t know, **make** some lemonade? \*\* Marvelous idea! Never really occured to me 'cos, well, i’m british! Approx. how many lemons and how much sugar to a quart? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142/20 "2000-07-28T14:56:01Z")
I just made the best lemonade I’ve ever had using a recipe I found in our local paper. Here it is: 1.5 cups water 1.5 cups sugar 1.5 cups fresh lemon juice zest (grated rind) of one lemon Mix together the sugar & water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, boil for 3 minutes, or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and lemon rind. Chill at least an hour, or until cold. At this point, the recipe says to strain out the lemon zest, but I left it in. To make lemonade from the syrup, pour syrup into glass until it’s 1/3 full. Add water or carbonated water (ie, soda) & ice until full. Stir. Drink. Enjoy. It’s also pretty good if you throw a shot of rum or vodka in it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemonade-or-water/27142.md?page=2)