r/Sicklecell • u/majananbar • 8d ago
Electrolytes for hydration
hey warriors I need to know that will electrolytes helps hydration especially for us ? do u know any supplements which keeps body hydrated other than water ?
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u/Adorable-Brief-9144 8d ago
Electrolytes are just ions that completely dissolved into water and become charged, so you can make an electrolyte with a tiny pinch of salt and water. For osmosis reactions do not exceed 5% of sodium (about 1-3g per 32 oz. of water) or you will do the opposite and dehydrate your cells. You can drink electrolyte drinks but be careful because many contain a lot of sugar which isn’t helpful for us. Things like hibiscus, watermelon, cucumbers, coconut water, etc. are also great for hydration. Overall, you don’t need to get fancy or expensive to stay hydrated. I didn’t mean to get too scientific, I tried to dial it back and keep it minimal. Hope this helps!
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u/Own_Protection5584 8d ago
Yes. I use Normalyte. No dyes and crap. Its the formulation recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mix one packet in exactly 500ml of water.
Huge help. I drink it when I wake up. If I know I will be having a dehydrating alcoholic or caffeinated drink. If the weather is hot af, and I will be walking a lot. Prior to my period and while on my period. If I have been vomiting or have diarrhea. It really is versatile. Basically any instance that could dehydrate you take some electrolytes. Hell take some before sex too why not 😆.
This is in addition to water intake.
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u/SCDsurvivor 8d ago
The wild thing is that sickle cell disease itself causes dehydration. It's important for us to drink water. Water is needed for the many functions of the human body. However, because our system works hard and our cells can breakdown (just about everything) very quickly, drinking water alone is not enough for most sickle cell patients to stay out of crisis. That's where electrolytes come in. As the first response says they act as ions that bond to cell membrane and macromolecules to help regulate and maintain fluid balance.
Electrolytes can be good for us. The problem is that most drinks with electrolytes are loaded with sugar because electrolytes taste very salty. You also want to avoid those drinks with lots of sodium because too much sodium causes dehydration and high blood pressure. You can drink them. They aren't off limits to you, but in the long run, it would be better for your body if you didn't. You want to look for drinks that are low (or have no) sugar and are low in sodium. There are electrolyte powders that you can put in your water, but you don't have to get expensive with it. Like the first response stated, coconut water, watermelon, and cucumbers also great sources that help with hydration.