Fluid Intake, Dehydration, Sports Drinks and Muscle Cramps

It’s December, which means two things: if you live down under in Australia, it’s the heat of summer (especially the more north you go). Elsewhere, it’s also the holiday season, holiday parties, and of course plenty of alcohol.

In both cases, dehydration can be a factor. I recall a theory where if you are hung over, drinking a sports drink such as Gatorade would help absorption.

But does it really work?

Enter Ross Tucker and Jonathan Dugas, stage left.

These 2 Ph. D’s from South Africa wrote an extensive 5 part series on the topics of Fluid Intake, Dehydration, Sports Drinks and Muscle Cramps:

• Part I: The History of Fluid Intake During Exercise
• Part II: Metabolic Rate, not Dehydration, Predicts Core Temp
• Part III: The Field vs. the Lab
• Part IV: Why Thirst is Not Too Late
• Part V: Muscle Cramps

These great articles are definitely worth the time to sit down and read, and you can come to your own conclusions.

Happy Holidays, and take life in moderation.