Q: I live in the south where the temperature daily reaches the high 90s and the humidity is high. I’m 77 years old, weigh 165 pounds and enjoy good health. I’m quite active and like to do lawn and garden work, mow, trim, weed, plant and generally keep busy for at least three or four hours between 6:30 and 10:30 in the morning and again an hour or two after 7:30 in the evening.

Is there a simple formula for compounding a drinkable electrolyte supplement that will maintain the body’s balance during the typical loss of electrolytes in sweat? I remember concocting such a solution when I was in college. We used sodium chloride (salt), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and potassium chloride (no salt) but I can’t remember the amounts of each per liter of distilled water. Please also advise me how much of the solution to drink per hour when sweating profusely. Thank you.

A: Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and magnesium allow the cells in our bodies to function properly by generating energy and maintaining stability. They move water and fluids from within the body, contract muscles and participate in maintaining a healthy bodily balance. [Read more...]