Dehydration - does gatorade really work?

Salt compounds are an ingredient in sweat...here is an interesting article about how Gatorade sort of works and whether or not it is basically flavored sweat.

It works to a point. Dehydration is a bit more complex than just replacing potassium, though, as far as the electrolytes are concerned. Other important minerals must be replaced, notably calcium and magnesium. Water replenishment isn't that simple, either. The body uses water for a lot of things, and when dehydrated it gets fussy about what it's used for. Water is used to digest proteins, remove toxins, and operate organs, as well as hydration. So the economics of water in the body are pretty rough when you're dehydrated. "Essentials only" is the principle, and that's what happens. One good way of getting extra water is to eat fresh vegetables, which contain pure water. Fresh fruit contains a lot of water, too. It takes some off the strain on your existing supplies of water. Vegetables also include the missing electrolytes, and help tidy up the gut and digestive processes, which can really take a pounding if deprived of water. Under the circumstances, if you feel like you want water, drink it. You might consider some salt, too, to help balance the body's water, but not too much at a time. Salt acts to prevent further water loss, but you have to have enough water for it to work properly. People take salt tablets to salinate their body's water, to minimize loss of water in deserts and hot climates. Don't overdo fats or proteins, stick to plain food until you're feeling better, and don't over exert yourself, because that uses water and can send you straight backwards.

I know when I have had a bad flu or my kids have a virus or flu bad enough that I haev to take them to the doctor, the doc always says to make sure they drink lots of gatorade. So, I would assume it works because of the electrolytes and all in it.

Hi there glra2222, hope you are better now. Well, I am no expert but my doctor said not to drink Gatorade. He said that it is a sports drink made for people who sweat excessively during strenous exercise. I used to let my granddaughter drink Gatorade and her pediatrician told me not to give it to her. She said it has too much salt. She also said that the best thing to do is drink water, lots of water...take care...

You should drink water if your afraid of dehydration because thats the purest neture can offer.