Do You Really Need to Drink Electrolytes?

Electrolyte drinks, once reserved mostly for athletes, are now a staple in the lives of everyday people. Here's what the experts have to say about this hydration supplement

- Ravi Raj

On dusty ground with just enough pebbles to make you bleed if you fall unceremoniously, a bunch of players, after a relentless fight of Kabaddi, huddle near a small tank of nimbu paani to replenish themselves before the next round begins. During district-level athletics meets, runners are seen mixing sachets of ORS in water before the whistles blow for an 800m race.

For some reason, these two scenes strike my mind immediately when I come across influencers or ultramarathoners hard-selling electrolyte drinks. What explains the newfound frenzy behind a concoction that has always been there with us? Especially in a hot and humid country like India where the economy is predominantly labour-based, workers have been replenishing their lost vitamins and minerals through natural sources since time immemorial.

From all-weather coconut water to summer's favourite aam panna, there is no dearth of natural electrolytes. Besides, it was a Kolkata-based paediatrician, Dr Dilip Mahalanabis who concocted a formula of salt, sugar and clean water, known as ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) to tackle dehydration among children suffering from diarrhoea. But while ORS is still something we resort to in times of sickness, sipping a can of electrolytic drinks has become a daily lifestyle choice for many. There is no dearth of brands promising you quicker and better hydration to cure anything from hangovers to plain old muscle cramps.