Re-hydrating with Water Is Good, But Not Enough
Summer is here, and all indications are it will be unusually hot, so here are some tips for optimal rehydrating.
During a fishing trip on a boat 70 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, I experienced weakness, brain fog, and dizziness. Despite being halfway through my two-quart water thermos, I found no relief. I then realized I had left my package of electrolytes at home. Fortunately, a fellow fisherman had a spare. I swiftly added it to my thermos and drank another two to three cups. Almost instantly, I felt a significant improvement in my condition.
Conventional wisdom tells you to drink plenty of fluids when it's hot and outdoors. But here's what it doesn’t tell you—you must also replace your body’s electrolytes. Why? Because our bodies work hard to maintain a normal core temperature (97–99 degrees Fahrenheit) when dealing with heat, and the most common method is sweating. And what's in sweat? It's not just water; it's also electrolytes-—those crucial elements for maintaining our body's chemical balance. These chemical compounds are essential for all of our cells and organs to function.
Let's talk about “Sports drinks” like Gatorade, invented in 1965. They contain water and important chemical compounds, which is great. But here's the…
