Rehydration drinks

[nappyaddict]

Why do they contain sugar and salt when sugar and salt dehydrate you?

When you (or your baby) are dehydrated, the body is lacking not just "water" but the correct balance of salts and sugars. This is especially crucial when dehydration has been caused by vomiting and diarrhea. If someone is severely dehydrated they will be put on a saline/glucose drip - i.e. salt and sugar water directly into a vein. Also, the idea that certain drinks are "dehydrating" is wrong. Tea and coffee for example are often critised for being "dehydrating" when in fact, the mild diuretic effect is completely offset by the water in these drinks. Only alcohol is a truly dehydrating drink. Hope this helps.

Because you lose salt through sweat and diarrhoea, not pure water. The sugar increases the uptake of the salt by your cells.