Electrolytes for Kids

Summer hit us fast and hard.  A few weeks ago my little one started throwing up.  So much that I had a call in to our doctor.  It was scary.  Then it clicked in my head.  No symptoms other than throwing up.  I did a quick internet search.  Perhaps she was dehydrated or over-heated.  She HAD played outside the evening before in the crazy heat.  I thought she'd had enough water once we got inside, but maybe not. 

She threw up everything I gave her...water, breast milk, etc.  Everything until I risked a home-made berry popscicle.  (Risked because, you know if it came up and landed on my carpet...yeah, yeah...)  As soon as the popscicle was gone, so was the vomiting.  We had a correct diagnosis! 

Now time for more research...what can I give my daughter as a natural electrolyte drink so this doesn't happen again?

Gatorade and Pedialyte.  Choice electrolyte replacement drinks for kids.  But what's wrong with those drinks, in my opinion? 

Here are the ingredients for the Pedialyte Apple drink directly from their site...
Water, Dextrose. Less than 2% of the Following: Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Zinc Gluconate, and Artificial Flavor.

And as for Gatorade...

So what is my complaint with these drinks?  For starters...

Dextrose, Sucralose, Artificial Flavor, Glucose-Frucose Syrup, Yellow 5, Brominated Vegetable Oils, Yellow 6, Red 40, Blue 1 and Caramel 1.

Fish Oil Benefits

Instead of sugar, artificial and synthetic supplement drinks, why not try something a little closer to nature.  Coconut water!  Yes, coconut water.

It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink. Ounce per ounce, most unflavored coconut water contains 5.45 calories, 1.3 grams sugar, 61 milligrams (mg) of potassium, and 5.45 mg of sodium compared to Gatorade, which has 6.25 calories, 1.75 grams of sugar, 3.75 mg of potassium, and 13.75 mg of sodium.

via Web MD

The balance of electrolytes in coconut water is nearly the same as that in the human blood -- so close, in fact, that coconut water is the only natural non-blood substance that can be safely injected into the human bloodstream. Ancient peoples knew this, and sometimes used it as an emergency intravenous fluid.

Most of the time there's no need to go to such lengths: just drink it, and you'll be rewarded with 15 times as much potassium as a typical sports drink, along with potent antioxidants. And unlike sugary sports drinks or coconut milk, coconut water is low in calories and fat free.

via Natural News

So coconut water is now our family's electrolyte replacement drink of choice!  I simply pour a small amount into my daughter's sippy cup, and she's off to play!  She likes it so much, that she'll ask for it sometimes during the day.

For the organic coconut water, it runs me $2 for an 11 oz. bottle.  It's more expensive than I'd like, but I can stretch it pretty far.  That flushed, hot from playing outside look quickly disappears from my daughter's face with just a few swigs of this stuff.  Plus, organic means a lot to me - the fewer the chemicals the better.

Have a happy and safe rest of your summer!  Stay cool.

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