Electrolyte --

[shepsel]

When I was in Thailand last year, I became dehydrated, and was hospitalized for over a week, even though I drank a minimum of three litres of water every day. When I returned home, I went to my physicial who said that my electrolytes were very low, and he gave me iron tablets to boost energy.

I will be arriving back in Thailand in a month, and of course, I do not want to have a repeat hospitilization, so I want to take the necessary precautions. If I add "electrolyte" packets to my drinking water, how many packets should I be adding to my drinking water each day?

If there are any other suggestions, it certainly would be appreciated. Thanks.

[nidge]

What were you doing to be dehydrated after drinking 3 litres per day?

When i am exercising, (mountain biking), i will drink 3 litres in a 60 km ride but i never use electrolytes and have never had dehydration issues. Perhaps it had more to do with what you were, (or were not), eating?

were you drinking a lot of beer or coffee as well? That will have a effect on your hydration too.

Edited December 19, 2007 by nidge

[Sheryl]

It varies with the packet, some are made to be added to a liter, some to 500cc, some to 250cc (one glass). Be sure to ask when you purchase as the wrong dilution can be harmful. Correctly diluted, you should be able to detect a taste of salt but no saltier than tears.

Tastier alternatives that serve the same purpose are fresh green coconut water and the Thai "nam minao" and fresh "nam som" (fresh squeezed lemonade or orange juice), as prepared by the Thais with both sugar and a pinch of aslt added. The pinch of salt may seem odd at first but don't skip it, that's where the Sodium (one ofthe 2 main electrolytes you need to consider, theo ther is potassium which both the lemons and theo ranges provide) comes from.

If you were sweating a great deal and drinking mostly plain water electrolyte depletion is indeed possible.

[kangeroo]

hello ,

I had the same problem , stop drinking coffee, plenty of ice when having beer, but the number one thing for me when i am in thai is sports drinks . works the same as electrolytes .

[too true]

When I was in Thailand last year, I became dehydrated, and was hospitalized for over a week, even though I drank a minimum of three litres of water every day. When I returned home, I went to my physicial who said that my electrolytes were very low, and he gave me iron tablets to boost energy.

I will be arriving back in Thailand in a month, and of course, I do not want to have a repeat hospitilization, so I want to take the necessary precautions. If I add "electrolyte" packets to my drinking water, how many packets should I be adding to my drinking water each day?

If there are any other suggestions, it certainly would be appreciated. Thanks.

You might want to also make sure you're drinkng proper mineral water and not the reverse osmosis stuff, which has absolutely nothing in it.