Electrolyte Powders to take along

[Badjer]

In a recent thread by #Pheroze the subject of electrolyte powders had come up. I copied my comment from that thread here. Electrolyte powders are a MUST for every hunt for me!

>>I take electrolytes most of the summer, because I got close to heat stoke once and seem to be heat sensitive now. As far as Electrolyte powders. My own research has found LMNT has a lot of sodium, Liquid IV lots of sugar. Force Factor Rapid Hydration (Walmart) OK but not always available, Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover (online -good but expensive) I have recently bought some Sports Research Hydrate Electrolytes (Amazon) they seem to have the best balance of salt and minerals but haven't used yet.

I gave out Wilderness Athlete packets to my hunt group after a long hot stalk in SA. I have also used them in New Mexico, Texas, and Sonora. They really helped me.

NOTE: find what works best for you and seriously consider taking some along

 

[DLSJR]

I used Wilderness Athlete ‘Hydrate & Recover’ on my Lord Derby hunt in Cameroon. I took a large PATH aluminum water bottle which I’d mix the electrolyte powder in the night before and put in the refrigerator. By the time I’d open that bottle in late morning it was still nicely cool. I thought the WA product was very good as I had no heat related issues. It also tasted a hell of a lot better than most other brands I tried.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Be careful with drinking electrolytes all day long. They are not meant to drink all day long. Especially day after day. That can cause serious health issues.

One or two drinks per day at most. Then water the rest of the day.

 

[farmer_john]

Drink more water. Is the solution.

 

[DLSJR]

Be careful with drinking electrolytes all day long. They are not meant to drink all day long. Especially day after day. That can cause serious health issues.

One or two drinks per day at most. Then water the rest of the day.

You’re exactly right. I’d use one packet a day but had 3 water bottles that totaled about 75 oz of water for drinking out in the field.

 

[SETH RINGER]

I'VE BEEN USING SALTSTICK CHEWABLE ELECTROLYTES. COME IN DIFFRENT FLAVORS AND YOU CAN DRINK WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THEM.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Sweating and drinking a lot of water flushes out the electrolytes you need but again. One or two sports drinks or added electrolytes per day.

 

[mdwest]

My “go to” is actually powdered beef broth or bullion cubes…

I’m typically hunting in the cold… a warm cup of broth helps knock the edge off of a winter day, provides a few calories, and has enough salt to replenish the system pretty well with electrolytes if you’re getting dehydrated..

Super lightweight, and super compact… so takes next to no space in the pack either..

Bullion cubes were a “trick” taught to me by a few old Vietnam era SF veterans.. I started carrying them on hikes, hunts, patrols, etc in the late 80’s when I first learned about them as a “survival” food…

I haven’t needed one to survive yet… but they sure have been nice when I’ve been cold/hungry/dehydrated…

 

[Badjer]

Sweating and drinking a lot of water flushes out the electrolytes you need but again. One or two sports drinks or added electrolytes per day.

Instructions on packets I have -- All Adult dosages

Liquid IV = 1 per day
Force Factor = 1 per day
Sports Research = 1-3 a day
Wilderness Athlete = To be consumed before, during, or after physical activity, as needed

Since LMNT has 46% DV sodium I'd guess they are 1 per day also

 

[Whit]

DripDrop is my go-to. Very effective, even in the desert.

 

[Andrew62]

Be careful with drinking electrolytes all day long. They are not meant to drink all day long. Especially day after day. That can cause serious health issues.

One or two drinks per day at most. Then water the rest of the day.

I appreciate you pointing this out, I had no idea. On a couple of very hot hunts in Zimbabwe I was struggling with cramps, this past hunt I drank a bottle of water mixed with a Mtn Ops hydration pack in the morning then another one in the afternoon, it eliminated my cramps. Seems this stuff really works. Thanks again for the heads up on drinking too much of this stuff.

 

[mdwest]

I appreciate you pointing this out, I had no idea. On a couple of very hot hunts in Zimbabwe I was struggling with cramps, this past hunt I drank a bottle of water mixed with a Mtn Ops hydration pack in the morning then another one in the afternoon, it eliminated my cramps. Seems this stuff really works. Thanks again for the heads up on drinking too much of this stuff.

Our medics back in my army days used to make us batches of “medic-aide”… basically watered down Gatorade with some other secret ingredient.. that way we could sip it all day long and not over do it on the electrolytes…

 

[Russ16]

I use LMNT daily. I get terrible muscle cramps if I don’t. I’m a heavy sweater and really lose electrolytes quickly. My Dr also cautioned me about isn’t too much but after talking about it and checking my blood work and blood pressure regularly we settled on a little higher than normal amount working for me.

 

[dchum]

I use LMNT daily. I get terrible muscle cramps if I don’t. I’m a heavy sweater and really lose electrolytes quickly. My Dr also cautioned me about isn’t too much but after talking about it and checking my blood work and blood pressure regularly we settled on a little higher than normal amount working for me.

Yes LMNT is the best and most natural.

Works very well.

 

[dchum]

Drink more water. Is the solution.

That is very incorrect and terrible advice

Chugging water all day and urinating all of your minerals all day long will cause rapid dehydration in extreme heat scenarios

You must replenish your minerals.

 

[Tanks]

Another vote for LMNT. I use it every time I work out.

 

[375Ruger416]

For a remote, backcountry, or cold weather hunt boullion cubes are a great solution (pun intended and regretted). Most sports drinks have too much sugar and not enough potassium and magnesium. Sodium is everywhere in our food because it is cheap, preserves food, and makes it taste better. Unopposed, it certainly can cause problems. LMNT contains relatively high amounts of magnesium and potassium which also tastes ‘salty’.

Sodium is often exchanged for potassium in our bodies (one of the important pumps on our cells is a sodium/potassium pump which moves sodium in one direction and potassium in another against the concentration gradient). This is what allows our nerves to ‘fire’ and trigger muscle contractions. Sodium is also exchanged for potassium in the kidneys and the intestines to control fluid and electrolyte balance. Magnesium is important for muscle relaxation and vasodilation.

It gets a bit complicated, but moderation is a good idea. Personally, as a 49 year old rural family doc turned anesthesiologist with an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology (biomechanics) I take LMNT every day and, as I said, take a second or even a third when I am very active and sweating heavily in hot weather. I must acknowledge, however, that it is a controversial area. I will also point out that optimizing human performance is a different context than avoiding and treating disease.

 

[Bandera]

I use liquid IV. Use when I travel, use when working on the range, use it when I might have had a few to many. Don’t get the peach flavored one. Makes me want to vomit.

 

[farmer_john]

That is very incorrect and terrible advice

Chugging water all day and urinating all of your minerals all day long will cause rapid dehydration in extreme heat scenarios

You must replenish your minerals.

Lol. Most people dont drink enough water on a consistent basis.

Your not starting on a half empty tank and electroyite powder being the cure all for starting low.
Drink more water is a very correct statement.
And also depending on the snacks you have as well can be a source of electrolytes. Most people die from losing water way before the salt. Not that people dont die from low or too high electrolytes. But waters a good starting point for preps.

 

[coreydb]

I drink water throughout the day. As long as I stay hydrated and eat propper meals, the body takes care of itself.