electrolytes

[malingerer]

any views on their effectiveness when backpacking? thinking mainly along lines of not just rehydration but cramp killers and alleviators of arthritis? ANYTHING TO BEAT the gammy knees! etc.
yours in desperation!

the malingerer.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Have you done a search on this? I'm pretty sure I've seen threads and threads about it?

 

[Tincatinker]

Worse still you could search the internet instead of just this sweet little forum.

I put a sachet of that (usually blackcurrant flavoured) re-hydration salts that you are supposed to take after a dose of diarrhea into one of my water bottles everyday when i'm hiking. I have done absolutely no scientific research to provide any basis for this, but it makes me feel good. And its a heck of a lot cheaper than the stuff they sell in "sports" shops and tastes nicer than an under-ripe banana.

 

[gigibarry]

My first Camino I walked with an ICU nurse who swore by them for helping to prevent blisters and plied me with them for days until I got my own stash. Feet were largely intact- only one blister on the fourth (admittedly funny shaped) toe on each foot. Due to electrolyes? Who knows? I put it in the category of 'can't hurt, might help' and kept using them.

 

[Robo]

Worse still you could search the internet instead of just this sweet little forum.

I put a sachet of that (usually blackcurrant flavoured) re-hydration salts that you are supposed to take after a dose of diarrhea into one of my water bottles everyday when i'm hiking. I have done absolutely no scientific research to provide any basis for this, but it makes me feel good. And its a heck of a lot cheaper than the stuff they sell in "sports" shops and tastes nicer than an under-ripe banana.

Same here. I used FlecToMin available in Pharmacies. Mixed in a water bottle and consumed through the day alternating with water from my bladder.
Did it help? I think so. Though I didn't try walking without it! But I didn't get blisters.....

I also bought Aquarius a lot. In the afternoons it was a great energy booster....

 

[Kanga]

My remedy for cramps was magnesium tablets purchased from a Spanish farmacia. Worked a treat. I've also used rehydration salts but had trouble finding decent tasting ones in Spain. The only ones I could find in farmacias were for babies with diahorrea.

 

[annakappa]

The only ones I could find in farmacias were for babies with diahorrea.

That's what we use: sachets of electrolyte powder, which i buy in Costa Rica, basically used for babies with diahrrea. Tastes disgusting, but at least psychologically seems to do the trick. Simply add one to the water bottle when the temperature starts rising and we are still far away from a bar, where I would then buy an Aquarius!

 

[newfydog]

If you have a good diet, and you are not gushing sweat from completion-level exertion, you shouldn't need extra electrolytes. I find some of the options taste better than plain water at times, but even in hot races they have had zero effect on whether I get cramps or not.
The movie Idiocracy had some entertaining commentary on them:

 

[zzotte]

A little salt in the water bottle goes a long way in aiding your body with water absorption for better hydration.

Zzotte

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

OK I think we finally have a solution to cramps!

A Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist and a Harvard neurobiologist think that they have discovered the antidote.

Flex Pharma’s supplement (I have no affiliation) will be available early next year. I'll be trialling it soon as...

 

[shubertj]

Malingerer,
Having done a lot of long distance training for numerous activities after I turned 50, like ( running 10 marathons, biking across the US in 52 days and hiking across Spain and Portugal several times), electrolytes are a very important part in completing these activities without cramps or problems in having your body firing on all cylinders. You can find these supplements like powdered gatorade or propel which you can add to your water, I usually drink one bottle a day of the mix and add a few package treats that you can buy at any hiking, biking or running store which contain electrolytes, sugar caffeine and sometimes vitamin C and D. They will give you a major boost especially near the end of the day.

We just returned from Peru and did a major a hike to Machu Picchu. We had a person who was having severe cramps in his calves after climbing 2000 feet and gave him some of my stash which I always carry. After 5-10 minutes he was up and going great again.

My Thoughts

 

[2travelingsisters]

I used Nunn hydration tablets dissolved in water. One bottle a day along with drinking regular water. Never had any cramping.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Running 26.2 in 3-4 hours? Yes to electrolytes. Walking that (or more likely less) over 6-8 hours with breakfast and lunch? I'd say no to electrolytes. There's plenty of salt in what you will be eating, and you can become sick from too much sodium (or worse, potassium).
My 2 cents.