Flat soda not the best choice for rehydration

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jun 5th 2008 9:00AM

When I'd fall ill with a stomachache at my grandmother's house, she always poured me a cup of cola, then stirred it with a spoon to make it flat. It always seemed to work to settle my tummy, but according to new research, flat soda isn't the best home remedy to treat kids who are dehydrated after a stomach bug.

Researchers couldn't find any scientific evidence to back up the use of flat sodas for rehydration, so they did a side-by-side comparison of soda and rehydration drinks which are specifically created to aid in mild dehydration. What they found is that soda is far too high in sugar and doesn't contain enough sodium and potassium, essential nutrients in treating dehydration.

Rehydration drinks for children are those like Pedialyte, while adults might drink a sports drink like Gatorade. Grandmothers everywhere may still use flat soda to treat a mild case of nausea, but when it's a case of dehydration, rehydration drinks appear to be the best way to go.

Source

Comments (3)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Desido 6-05-2008 @ 9:35AM

Soda was NEVER used for hydration. It settles your stomach due to it's phosphorus which gives it the amber color. It settles an upset stomach which has nothing to do with hydration.

js 6-05-2008 @ 11:36AM

I agree. I thought it was only ginger ale, too, that my family used, as ginger has settling properties, too. (Although let's be honest, it was probably fake.)

Brian 6-05-2008 @ 2:06PM

During ultramarathons the aid stations offer flat coke and mountain dew for the sugar pick me up. But since soda only has about 30mg of sodium its important to also take an electrolyte pill such as endurolytes or take a handful of potato chips/pretzels.

The electrolyte need is different for different people.
-- if you are not acclimated to the weather you will tend to need more electrolytes then someone used to exercising in the same temperature.
-- some people sweat more then others.
-- some people have more electrolytes in their sweat then others.
-- people whom eat high sodium diets tend to loose sodium faster during exercise, then those whom have normal sodium intake.
-- some peoples bodies tend to store more or less sodium then others.

If you have been sweating a lot during extensive exercise and become dehydrated you need to replace water and electrolytes together. The Human body can only absorb upto 38oz of a sport drink per hour. Fluid empties your stomach and is more readily absorbed when drinking a sport drink, since the Ph balance of a sport drink is close to that of blood.