Dehydration has a plethora of nasty side effects, and consistent, long-term dehydration can do severe damage to certain organs in the body. Dehydration from illnesses is even worse because the body loses crucial electrolytes as well. Enter, Pedialyte, a surprising aid for dehydration. Pedialyte has often been hailed as one of the best options to help properly hydrate sick kids, but what about for grown-ups? Can adults consume Pedialyte and get the same benefits as children?
Pedialyte Isn’t Just For The Stomach Bug
Pedialyte was designed to hydrate and replenish lost electrolytes in kids dealing with diarrhea and vomiting. However, the drink has found a new audience in adults dealing with hangovers.
When you consume alcohol, your body urinates more frequently than usual. This loss of fluids leads to a large loss of electrolytes and leave you extremely dehydrated the next morning, which contributes to the dreaded hangover.
Pedialyte released special advertisements and products that claim to help restore the body’s electrolyte count after a night of drinking — simply by consuming the drink before going to sleep, as you would typically do with a glass of water. However, as with other hangover remedies, this is not a proven cure. The best way to avoid the terrible feeling of a hangover is to watch how much you drink.
Health Issues Of Dehydration
Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, and skipping your water intake can lead to some uncomfortable symptoms of dehydration, such as headaches, dark urine, dizziness, fatigue, confusion and intense thirst. The long-term effects of being constantly dehydrated include urinary and kidney problems, seizures and life-threatening heat strokes.
Drinking enough water is crucial, and sickness and ill-health can lead to the body being depleted of crucial electrolytes such as salt, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Finding ways to reintroduce these electrolytes into the body is an important part of maintaining short-term and long-term health as it helps the body absorb liquid and nutrients.
Get Those Electrolytes
Finding beverages that are packed with electrolytes generally comes at a cost — most sports drinks, such as Powerade and Gatorade, contain high amounts of sugar, which contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. For athletes, Pedialyte can be a milder substitute for sports drinks because as it helps replenish fluids and restore crucial electrolytes, albeit at lower levels than Gatorade or Powerade.
Pedialyte might not contain the same levels of sodium as regular sports drinks, it holds more potassium that, along with substantially lower sugar levels, make it a preferred choice for children and adults alike who want to maintain a healthy diet.
