Yes, given pure enough water. Water is hard to drink and usually will do you harm, if living in NY. I suggest hydration treatment separately with the proper liquid. Not just to survive, but to improve health and longevity. Food consumption is an entirely separate and more complex issue in my view.

“Maybe most North Americans whose diet consists of junk food and tons of soda and beer should read my website and they wouldn’t have so many problems “

I totally agree, or I wouldn’t have used my time to post. Thank you, your blog is awesome.

I’m not sure what you mean by “Not recommending proper hydration for couch potatoes.” I recommend proper hydration for everyone! However, I don’t recommend sports drinks for couch potatoes because you don’t burn very many calories sitting on a couch.

You can get hydrated by drinking water and green tea and get nutrients (including electrolytes) by eating a healthy diet.

Maybe most North Americans whose diet consists of junk food and tons of soda and beer should read my website and they wouldn’t have so many problems

I addressed that in my Nuun review.

Persistent dehydration at any level WILL cause early death and other signs of aging in everybody. So please, don’t leave out us sofa potatoes. We happen to outnumber all you fitness fanatics 10,000 to 1. Don’t assume only babies and athletes are in need of what you’re calling electrolytes, sport drinks and powders. Most liquids consumed by North Americans, have a molecular bond to added ingredients like syrups, colorants and only God knows what else. This feature renders most of our liquid intake, as recognized by our biology, as food, while utilizing only a very small percentage as a hydrating compound. If, throughout a normal day, we consume 24oz of soda, 36oz of beer or wine, 12oz of milk, our bodies will have taken in, out of those 72oz, only 10oz for hydrating purposes. The remaining 62oz will be processed as food, being eliminated as such.

The trick is, how to hydrate starting with the purist water + salts/minerals, vitamin, enzyme and the like, as supplements. What levels are needed for each, how are they assimilated/absorbed by the human body?

Why consume something that wasn’t meant for human consumption?

Kelly

I don’t see why not. As long as you’re sticking to the recommended 1-3 capsules per hour you should be fine.

There’s really nothing harmful in there and the doses of electrolytes from a few Endurolytes capsules are a relatively small portion of your overall diet.

Also, Hammer gels are purposely low in electrolytes so they make a good match for Endurolytes.

Thanks for responding,

Jocelyne

1/4 tsp Epsom salt (magnesium)
1/4 tsp baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1/4 tsp potassium chloride (potassium)
1/4 tsp table salt (sodium)
1/4 tsp Sea Salt (numerous minerals)
2 tsp of sugar
2 tbls Tang (ascorbic acid, citric acid, minerals)
2 qts water

You’re welcome. I hate to see people paying more for inferior products, which is all too common with any sort of supplement.

@Frank

Sometimes I do carry a tea honey drink, as it’s much healthier than any commercial sports drink. And sometimes I do straight herbal tea (no sweetener) if I don’t need calories.

Sometimes I add some sea salt, too (the expensive stuff like “Real Salt” which contains a variety of minerals.)

However, for big events like endurance MTB races, I stick with stuff like Hammer Perpetuem, Endurolytes, GU gel, Nuun tabs, etc.

Also, I recently read some info that the need to replenish electrolytes is much less than most believe (via mythbusters and lifehacker) and that milk or diluted juice do the job just as well.

In any event, have you ever made your own? I don’t remember the recipe, but I made a good one with chilled tea, honey and salt. I also found a few recipes using electrolyte powders like those above that seemed interesting.

Thanks for the overview!