Hydration Water vs Electrolytes

Comments debate the best hydration strategies, questioning if plain water suffices or if electrolytes, salts, and sugars are necessary to avoid dehydration or imbalances like water intoxication, emphasizing thirst as a guide.

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Keywords

e.g IMHO IV USA wikipedia.org water drink drinking drinking water salt cups body glass fluid glasses

Sample Comments

Why couldn't I just drink water and electrolytes instead?

drbojingle Jan 2, 2022 View on HN

Not even drinking a ton of water before and during?

Sophistifunk Jul 3, 2018 View on HN

You're not drinking enough :)

bouncycastle Sep 25, 2020 View on HN

come on guys, really? You can even overdose with water https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

Moru Sep 6, 2017 View on HN

Be careful not to drink too much water though, your body needs the salt that gets flushed away :-)

jasfi May 12, 2022 View on HN

So drinking more water would be enough?

stealthlogic Mar 19, 2015 View on HN

Or, you know, just drink water.

iammru Aug 21, 2020 View on HN

Same as drinking lots of water....:)

kf Apr 28, 2008 View on HN

How do salt/sugar solve dehydration?

a8da6b0c91d Jul 12, 2014 View on HN

There is zero evidence supporting the idea that drinking water beyond thirst is helpful. If anything people tend to have slight electrolyte deficiency, which is exacerbated by fluid over-consumption.