Hydrating effects of different types of drinking water?

[flots am]

"Ionized" water is nonsense, it's like that "left spinning" water that was so popular back in the day.

Hey, it's at least as good as the "Oxygen Water".

 

[TSandM]

Yes, the sodium content of sweat is dilute in comparison with serum, and therefore sweating losses are PRIMARILY free water losses. This is why, with the exception of people exercising hard or in extremely hot conditions for long periods of time, drinking water is enough to rehydrate from sweat losses.

 

[AggieDiver]

Never heard of that one! A low sugar sports drink? Lots of sodium, not much potassium. Looks pricey to me! CamelBak | ELIXIR Lemon-Lime Flavor Electrolyte Sports Drink, No Sugar

We use it mainly on longer cycling rides in the heat down here in Houston. I sweat heavily also, so they are useful to replace the lost electrolytes without overdoing the sugar content. Sweat has more sodium than potassium, so you don't need as much potassium to replace what you lost, just enough to keep the two relatively balanced. Another thing for those just drinking plain water in very hot environments, do make sure you either eat something with some salt in it or alternate with a beverage containing salt, as hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) can cause a wide range of symptoms that can be confused with DCS (Nausea, Vomiting, Headache, Confusion, Loss of Energy, Fatigue, Restlessness, Irritability, Muscle Weakness, Spasms or Cramps, Seizures, Unconsciousness, and Coma).

 

[DandyDon]

It's a very rare day that I'm actually "looking" for distilled water. Maybe a gallon jug every 5 years to poor into that oh so lonely clothes iron?

I was simply replying to your "...never have I seen it as distilled water." I watch for it to avoid it, as I have picked it up by mistake.

"Ionized" water is nonsense, it's like that "left spinning" water that was so popular back in the day.

Yeah, I think she meant Deionized.

One point that I recall from the paper mentioned above was that although sweat is salty, it is not as salty as the normal balance of fluids in the body--you are losing more water than salt. This means the balance of the regular fluids in the body has shifted toward being more salty. The balance of electrolytes to water in the body is important, and taking too much salt in immediately while rehydrating is counterproductive. That is why the current recommendation for athletes that I hear is to include electrolytes in water only for activities of longer duration.

Yes, the sodium content of sweat is dilute in comparison with serum, and therefore sweating losses are PRIMARILY free water losses. This is why, with the exception of people exercising hard or in extremely hot conditions for long periods of time, drinking water is enough to rehydrate from sweat losses.

Ok, got it - thanks.

I guess the Gatorade myth is here to stay. I'm still snickering about the Smart water, canned Coconut water, and Camelbak Elixir (Fizzies?) :snicker: but if y'all enjoy them, great.


So does anyone know if RO water is as pure/empty as Distilled/Deionized, or is there a standard...?

 

[dfx]

Yeah, I think she meant Deionized.

That's not what I meant when I said nonsense. There's actually people/places selling "ionized" water, along with "alkalinized" water. There's also "water ionizers" that you can buy, which have nothing to do with splitting the H2O into H2 and O. It's the concept behind all that which my "nonsense" comment referred to.

 

[tracydr]

Yes, the sodium content of sweat is dilute in comparison with serum, and therefore sweating losses are PRIMARILY free water losses. This is why, with the exception of people exercising hard or in extremely hot conditions for long periods of time, drinking water is enough to rehydrate from sweat losses.

This is why I usually drink several bottles of water to a bottle of coconut water or salty snack.
Also, our climate is hot. Extremely hot. 115+ in the summer. When we do anything outdoors in the summer, I suffer terribly. Therefore, I've learned the hard way that I must replace at least some sodium,potassium and even magnesium.

 

[tech_diver]

I believe that in the U.S. there are regulations regarding the labeling of bottled water. 'Distilled water' is a specific product. 'Filtered or purified' water is water treated with some filtration or purification process. 'Spring' water is water collected from a specific source. Water labeled as 'Drinking water' is simply local tap water in a bottle.

 

[mikeycanuk]

Why the coconut hate? Hell if it goes undrunk on the boat and little rum and voila, a simply island cocktail.

As long as you enjoy the taste, coconut water may potentially be better at keeping you hydrated than a sports drink or water. A study published in 2010 from Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise demonstrated that coconut water replaced body fluids as good as a typical sports drink, and slightly better than water– however, most of the athletes preferred the taste of the sports drink instead. To truly stay well hydrated, you likely have to drink more coconut water, than if you drink plain water.

 

[John_B]

Yes, the sodium content of sweat is dilute in comparison with serum, and therefore sweating losses are PRIMARILY free water losses. This is why, with the exception of people exercising hard or in extremely hot conditions for long periods of time, drinking water is enough to rehydrate from sweat losses.

OK, water and a little salt for diving. Check.

What about "the exception of people exercising hard or in extremely hot conditions for long periods of time" (cycling)? I'm highly susceptible to leg cramps from cycling or after a layoff from diving (N.B. cramping in different muscles), and have always subscribed to the "ingest more potassium" mantra (primarily bananas over sports drinks or tablets). Is that a potassium deficiency? Electrolytes gone wanting? Something else entirely?

 

[JohnN]

OK, water and a little salt for diving. Check.

What about "the exception of people exercising hard or in extremely hot conditions for long periods of time" (cycling)? I'm highly susceptible to leg cramps from cycling or after a layoff from diving (N.B. cramping in different muscles), and have always subscribed to the "ingest more potassium" mantra (primarily bananas over sports drinks or tablets). Is that a potassium deficiency? Electrolytes gone wanting? Something else entirely?

Excerpted without permission from: http://www.columbussports.com/conte...or-muscle-cramps-well-on-second-thought.shtml

Even though it’s not a proven fact, staying hydrated and maintaining that right mineral/electrolyte balance is still the smart thing to do in doing your part to prevent cramping from happening. Get this, though. Well, actually, let me present it this way. When you think of how to prevent muscle cramps, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind?
“Oh, I know this one; it’s eat a banana! Right?”
Wrong.
Many people think that eating a banana will help replace the potassium your body has lost, and while this is true, cramping is really thought to result because of sodium (salt) loss, not potassium loss.^1,2
The truth is cramping is a very mysterious occurrence. While the majority of cramping is experienced during physical activity, what’s even harder to explain is waking up in the middle of the night with a cramp. And even though no one really knows the true cause to muscle cramps during exercise or while sleeping, I recommend you experiment with what works for you.
Yes, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are thought to be a possible cause, especially in very hot exercising conditions, but so is lack of flexibility, too much lactic acid in the muscles, abnormal nerve activity, hyperventilation, and contracting your calf muscles by curling your toes under the covers.<sup>1


1</sup> American Council on Exercise (2003). ACE personal trainer manual: The ultimate resource for fitness professionals, (3^rd ed). San Diego, CA: American Council on Exercise.
² Wilmore, J., & Costill, D. (2004). Physiology of sport and exercise, (3^rd ed). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.