What is gatorade?

Question

I have seen it mentionned on here lots of times...what is it? Also, what is pedialyte?

I'm just curious- are these things solely American? I'm in the UK and have a 22 month old daughter, but have never seen them when shopping for her medicines...

Answer 1

Pedialyte is an "oral rehydration solution" for children. Oral rehydration solutions can come in many forms including powder, liquid concentrate, ready to drink, frozen pops etc.

Contrary to popular opinion in the medical community Oral Rehydration solutions are only advisable when the baby is absolutely refusing to drink, or unable to keep down breastmilk or formula. If the baby is formula fed small quatities of water may be added to the baby's diet, or the formula may be made slightly more dilute. Formula is relatively high in electrolytes, also known as mineral salts. Breastmilk not only contains the perfect amount of electrolytes and the contents of it change based on the baby's feeding each feeding it also have valuable antibodies and every effort should be made to continue feeding with breastmilk rather than any substitute.

Recipes of ORS can commonly be found online, more info and a recipes is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_solution
http://www.personalmd.com/healthtopics/crs/dehydrat.shtml
http://www.diarrhoea.org/solutions/homemade.htm


Gatorade is an adult "sport drink" which is to say it is an uncarbonated highly sugary drink with some mineral salts added. It generally contains a lot of food colouring as well.

Some doctors say it can be substituted for ORS, I think you dilute it. It probably can be, but it is MUCH higher in sugar. However pedialyte is NASTY tasting. It is much better to make your own.

Answer 2

Yes it's American. Basically it's a sports drink that has a lot of electrolytes which really help with dehydration. Another option is Propel which has less sugar than Gatorade. Pedialyte is the baby equivalent of Gatorade--it's made specifically for babies and young children. It doesn't have the same dyes as Gatorade does and it helps to keep kids from becoming dehydrated and is better for them than juice.

Answer 3

Gatorade is a sports drink, not suitable for young children. Pedialyte is a drink for children which replenishes electrolytes for when they have diarrhea etc. I don't think either are available in the UK. (I'm British living in the States with 2 young children born here.)

Answer 4

Gatorade is just a sports drink basicly, in the US some doctors will tell you to dring water or gatorade to keep you hydrated so basicly its just a hydrating sports drink