The Tale of a Zebra (EDS) and POTS

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Salty Drink Ideas

EDSZebraPOTS

There are several hydration drinks out there. I will update this list as I find new products or recipes. 

Store Bought:

Gatorade Powder 160mg Sodium, 45mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Preservatives (check ingredient list)

    • Sugar content - 21g

  • Positives

    • Easily found at department stores

    • Several flavors available

    • Fairly inexpensive (about $8.00 per container - makes 6 gallons/63 servings)

    • Travels easily - I put it into small plastic jars so I can mix it up on-the-go.

Campbell's V8 Juice Original - 5.5oz Can - 640mg Sodium, 460mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • One flavor - Tomato

    • Premixed and serving size predetermined

  • Positives

    • You can find it everywhere

    • Fairly inexpensive (I don't have exact numbers but I've bought it for around 50 cents per can in bulk)

    • About 1.5 servings of vegetables per container

Normalyte 1000mg of Sodium Chloride, 2000mg of Sodium Citrate, 750mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Cost - 6 servings for $8.99

  • Positives

    • Available at CVS and Krogers

    • Four flavors available - Orange, Grape, Green Apple, Pure

    • "Does not contain any preservatives or dyes (coloring agents)"

    • "The low-osmolarity and preservative-free composition of NormaLyte provides the right combination of salts and glucose essential to restore normal hydration levels"

    • Sugar content - 6.75g

Vega Sport 254mg Sodium, 400mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Cost - $25 for 30 servings

    • Only 2 flavors - Berry and Lemon Lime

    • Sugar content not listed on website - says they use "Natural lemon and lime flavors, citric acid, malic acid, stevia extract, silicon dioxide

  • Positives

    • Can be found at GNC, Target, and Outpost

Purchase Online:

Gatorade Endurance 300mg Sodium, 140mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Preservatives (check ingredient list)

    • Sugar content - 21g

    • Currently, only 2 flavors available (Lemon Lime or Orange)

    • Price - Roughly $30 for 38 servings.

  • Positives

    • Higher sodium and potassium content to aid in hydration (and hopefully fewer trips to the bathroom)

    • Travels easily

Banana Bag Oral Solution 370mg Sodium, 120mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Cost - 30 servings is $62 (or $47 with a subscription)

    • One flavor - from their website "It has a slight lemon/berry flavor."

  • Positives

    • "No artificial flavors, no sweeteners, no preservatives, no artificial colors, and no excess sugars."

    • Only 3.7g of sugar per serving - "With 3.7 grams of sugar and 370 mg of sodium per serving, the Banana Bag Oral Solution meets the new ‘low osmolarity’ standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for fast and effective absorption of orally ingested water and electrolytes. The results are rapid relief of dehydration with no bloating or nauseating after effects."

    • "Combining a high dose B-Vitamin complex along with Vitamins A, D, and 750 mg Vitamin C, the Banana Bag Oral Solution can help to restore energy, immune health, antioxidants, and cognitive function naturally for a long lasting effect."

Trioral 2600mg Sodium, 1500mg Potassium (1 liter serving size)

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • 13.5g of Sugar (but this is for a liter serving size)

  • Positives

    • 1 liter serving size

    • No flavoring - "contains NO artificial sweeteners or flavoring agents, at your discretion, you can squeeze a lemon, lime or orange to taste."

    • Cost - Fairly inexpensive. 50 servings for $30 or 100 servings for $50

Cerasport 230mg Sodium, 80mg Potassium (17oz serving size)

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Serving size

      • Individual packets (Sport Sticks) make a 500ml (approximately 17oz) serving

      • The Big Pouch makes 2.5 gallons

    • Cost

      • Sport Sticks $160 for 100 packets

      • Big Pouch (can make up to 2.5 gallons) for $22

    • Small serving size - Nutrition label says use half of packet (8.5oz serving) but the website recommends using the full packet for a 17oz serving. Strange advertising tactic

    • Rice Syrup Solids is the first ingredient (most abundant), they're normally used to "add alcohol and lighten the body of beers"

  • Positives

    • Low sugar content

      • Sport Sticks - 4g per 17oz serving

      • Big Pouch - 4g per 16.5oz serving

Cerasport EX1 200mg Sodium, 100mg Potassium

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

  • Positives

    • Low sugar content - 1g per 8oz serving

Hydralyte 1030–1380 mg Sodium, 800 mg Potassium, 1240-1600 mg Chloride

Purchase Here

  • Negatives

    • Serving size is 7 ounces

    • Directions say, if you're over 13 years old "to drink up to 7 packets per day"

    • Cost - $1 per serving (expensive when you need multiple servings per day with POTS)

      • 7 packets per day x $1 x 30 days per month = $210 per month (Maximum Cost)

    • Sugar Content - 17g per 7 ounce serving (their website says 0.6 ounces of sugar, when converted to grams it's 17 grams)

  • Positives

    • Easily available on Amazon (only available in select stores, not available are near me)

    • Available in orange and berry flavors

    • Available in packets or in effervescent tablets (easy for travel)

Make Your Own:

Wellness Mama - Natural Sports Drink  Roughly 1400mg Sodium in 4 cups (350mg Sodium per 1 cup)

  • Negatives

    • Time (purchasing ingredients, making, clean up)

  • Positives

    • Control of ingredients and content