Electrolyte Powders to take along

[Badjer]

While Milk is not practical for hydration during a hunt. It’s fantastic before or after. As long as you don’t suffer from lactose issues.

Milk has been proven to be the fastest rehydration method. Better than any sports drink or mix. I dont mean to say perfect. because milk has other potential issues that come into play with its use. but with regards to rehydration alone, nothing works better.

Milk does have Potassium, Calcium, Zinc and Phosphorus, four electrolytes in addition to its other vitamins and minerals so this makes sense.

 

[Badjer]

What’s interesting to me is the brainwashing about consuming any form of common sugar. A theme that spills over into the “sports drink” industry, Seems like a high percentage of our population will avoid sugar at any and all costs thinking it is poison while eagerly slamming down huge quantities of substitute artificial sweeteners without a second thought. Simple observation, take it or leave it

True, artificial sweeteners are a long term unknown. Sugar is a good add for a short boost of energy. Guess it depends on what you're doing as to what is needed.

 

[Charlie64]

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I often think that we are guilty of over engineering ....... most hunting in Africa is during the cooler months and temps rarely push the mercury north of 30 degrees celcius. Yes I have used electolytes in the past but nowadays I just drink lots of simple water when I get thirsty. Does the trick for me and rarely am I leaking sweat when on a hunt.

Hunted with a PH some 20 years back and his routine was to drink a litre of water in camp before setting off for the day and then again a litre at lunch and he was good all day.

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[Philip Glass]

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

I usually don't worry with electrolytes but on occasion extreme conditions make me wish I had a few packs. I got some LMNT because I don't eat sugar and all the rest have sucralose. If I'm using electrolytes it must have salt for me. They are expensive however.

 

[Badjer]

.

I often think that we are guilty of over engineering ....... most hunting in Africa is during the cooler months and temps rarely push the mercury north of 30 degrees celcius. Yes I have used electolytes in the past but nowadays I just drink lots of simple water when I get thirsty. Does the trick for me and rarely am I leaking sweat when on a hunt.

Hunted with a PH some 20 years back and his routine was to drink a litre of water in camp before setting off for the day and then again a litre at lunch and he was good all day.

.

While I agree in theory, I've been told, by the time you feel thirst you are already getting dehydrated. In addition, you can get dehydrated in cold temps as well where you won't be leaking sweat. Be safe.

 

[Badjer]

I’m glad this topic came up because I got heat exhaustion a couple years back and heat really bothers me now ,...

Having this problem in Wisconsin is bad enough. I feel your pain. LOL

 

[Badjer]

I usually don't worry with electrolytes but on occasion extreme conditions make me wish I had a few packs. I got some LMNT because I don't eat sugar and all the rest have sucralose. If I'm using electrolytes it must have salt for me. They are expensive however.

There are quite a few that use stevia (steviol glycosides)
I read about LMNT and may get some for "occasional extreme conditions"

 

[375Ruger416]

Don't worry so much about things like that. I was deployed with the French army in the Djibouti area to secure various border issues following the unrest in Ogaden and Erytrea. The hot climatic conditions in this region are extreme, but the effort required was not as extensive as what some people here do to try to survive as tourists in areas that are far more welcoming than the ones I am describing.

Undoubtably true. OTOH, I doubt we are in the physical shape or youth you had in at the time. Like many environmental illnesses, heat stroke and hypothermia disproportionally affects us at the extremes of age. Some moderate activity in hot weather you are unused in middle-age or older to can easily lead to problems. Your PH and your team should know how to keep you in good condition, but I would encourage everyone to be thoughtful and intentional about your hydration and electrolyte habits. A healthy, varied diet generally contains enough electrolytes to prevent illness, but again, optimum performance and feeling well during increased activity you are unused to is something different.

Type 2 fun is fine, but no need to cause it intentionally.

 

[375Ruger416]

What’s interesting to me is the brainwashing about consuming any form of common sugar. A theme that spills over into the “sports drink” industry, Seems like a high percentage of our population will avoid sugar at any and all costs thinking it is poison while eagerly slamming down huge quantities of substitute artificial sweeteners without a second thought. Simple observation, take it or leave it

Toxicity is in the dose, not in the drug [sic]. Sugar in small amounts or moderate amounts is fine. However, the amount of ADDED sugar in our diets and carbohydrates is insane and has increased drastically over time. Like salt (mostly sodium chloride is used), sugar is a preservative (see jam), makes food more palatable, and leads to overeating. They have done studies that show increased food intake just by adding sugar to the same meal. This leads to high sodium intake (especially relative to potassium, magnesium intake) and high sugar intake out of proportion to other nutrients.

For me, my big risk is obesity (currently 300 lbs, 6’4, BMI 35, body fat 35%) and the extra calories in sugar, the effect it has upon food intake, and its high glycemic index (which makes your pancreas work hard secreting insulin) are all much, much riskier than artificial sweeteners. Undoubtably, black coffee, tea, and water are better than any sweetened drink but if it is a choice between Coca Cola and Diet Coke it’s a no-brainer.

 

[fourfive8]

Toxicity is in the dose, not in the drug [sic]. Sugar in small amounts or moderate amounts is fine. However, the amount of ADDED sugar in our diets and carbohydrates is insane and has increased drastically over time. Like salt (mostly sodium chloride is used), sugar is a preservative (see jam), makes food more palatable, and leads to overeating. They have done studies that show increased food intake just by adding sugar to the same meal. This leads to high sodium intake (especially relative to potassium, magnesium intake) and high sugar intake out of proportion to other nutrients.

For me, my big risk is obesity (currently 300 lbs, 6’4, BMI 35, body fat 35%) and the extra calories in sugar, the effect it has upon food intake, and its high glycemic index (which makes your pancreas work hard secreting insulin) are all much, much riskier than artificial sweeteners. Undoubtably, black coffee, tea, and water are better than any sweetened drink but if it is a choice between Coca Cola and Diet Coke it’s a no-brainer.

The discussion has to do with electrolytes and hydration. It’s your choice about consuming artificial sweeteners or not. Sugar is nothing more than a short chain carbohydrate. I’ll continue to avoid artificial sweeteners in favor of regular sugar or even, many times, no sugar. I’ll continue to drink various fruit juices that come already spiked with their own natural sweeteners- nothing added. Excessive consumption of many things can be detrimental. I have always had coffee black with no cream, no sugar nor any blue, red or yellow color coded packet of artificial whatever.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

I've always enjoyed the LMNT mixes. My wife uses them for long distance running replenishment, so I figure I'm good walking 5-10mi a day.

 

[mdwest]

$10 for 12 packets at Costco… best winter anti dehydration remedy on earth

 

[Flbt]

I hate the taste. But as a kid working in hay fields
Sq bail loading and stacking during the summer.
Pickle juice nasty but helps and help keep cramps at bay.

 

[50Gunner]

Great thread, little Wife is a runner and I use her Sports Research packets when needed, the Cherry Pomegranate is delicious, going back to what sports Doc said, if your body needs it, it's delicious, heavy salt shaker user at meals while on Safari as well.

We use Redmond's salt here all year long in foods, same Doc said salt to taste, if it doesn't taste overly salty to you your body needs it, same/same with a drop of JCrows iodine on your inside forearm, if your body needs it, it will disappear through absorption, I put three drops of iodine in coffee each day, many wonderful health benefits from it, keeps thyroid function at max in the middle levels, everything else in our genetic DNA binary banks gets their orders from the thyroid.

An 8lb Fiskars splitting maul along with Fiskars Axe, sledgehammer and wedges are coming up soon, will be splitting next years firewood supply, usually around 10 ricks, I pound those electrolyte pacs even in cooler weather spring working the wood piles, great exercise, focus, as well as cardio.

Also notice if Wife puts an extra large pile of dill pickle chips with my meal I've been drinking too much pickle juice from the jar again, gotta keep those chips below liquid level ; ]

It is wonderful stuff, knocks cramps out very quick.

 

[trperk1]

I use them as it's always a climate shock coming from the N. US to Africa. 100+ degrees and long stalks. I drink a ton of water but the supplements help

 

[Nhoro]

I do half marathon./ 3/4 marathons in Zimbabwean conditions. So I have researched and used rehydration salts. Also hunted/ guided/ filmed hunts. Generally I am acclimated to zim conditions in Harare- so 35 deg max. But I have lived and worked in Mozambique and Chiredzi so no stranger to 45 deg temps. I don't take rehydration salts daily but I will often take them if I am in a hot area and walking lots. I don't think a 10 day hunt with daily rehydration is going to cause health problems for a healthy person. If you have blood pressure or heart problems then follow your doctors orders. For the rest of us, they help you feel better. I have learnt the effects of dehydration- tiredness, mental slowness followed by headache and muscle cramps. A friend of mine died on a race from dehydration and heat stroke. I was in the same race, much fatter, older and slower than him. Heat stroke/ dehydration is serious and quicker than I would have believed possible. And avoidable. I take rehydration salts pretty freely and think that you have to take them long term and in heavy doses before you have medical problems. Take them because you will be more alert and capable/ happy/ stronger on a walking hunt. Mixed as per the label, it is pretty difficult to overdose.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I have a friend who used to work in a foundry in the 70s so before sports drinks were big. They drank water all day long and were given salt tablets. I always wonders what exactly were in those salt tablets, if anything but plain table salt.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Don't worry so much about things like that. I was deployed with the French army in the Djibouti area to secure various border issues following the unrest in Ogaden and Erytrea. The hot climatic conditions in this region are extreme, but the effort required was not as extensive as what some people here do to try to survive as tourists in areas that are far more welcoming than the ones I am describing.

That’s pretty dangerous advice for people that are older and probably not in the best of shape..

 

[Bigry]

At work we get the overtime sugar free shotz. There are several flavors and most of them are not that bad. My wife found one in my lunch box and now she has 1 just about every day.

 

[pilar]

Not my favorite tasting stuff ( sqwincher zero ) but it works and was free from our safety manager, who says it’s better for my blood sugar?
I like the lime flavor Everlyte lot better and know it tastes and works well
But I guess this is all he had and beggars can’t be choosy
( bugger I didn’t see any potassium in the ingredients for foot and leg cramps)

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