27-07-12, 07:02 AM
(26-07-12, 08:46 PM)VNA link Wrote: It's all relative. Sure a can, or a few cans of coke will hydrate you (not de-hydrate you), both the sugar and the caffeine may perk you up a bit, but not for long, and of course all that sugar is bad for you, so best avoided unless you need a quick sugar buzz. .
You've got the wrong end of the stick, the cola mixture is not meant to be some sort of idealistic tonic. You need the salt to promote the osmotic process in your gut, this is how your body absorbs water and cola is the most easily available delivery system for it, simply because it is indeed sugary and takes away the taste. If you have someone suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration they are invariably a little 'testy' and will be loathe to drink salty tasting water, they'll probably refuse to drink more than a sip (and of course it can make them throw up)
Another interesting thing about caffeine is that if you drink it regularly your body starts to get used to it and the effects lessen (a bit like heroin users who need stronger doses the more they take)
My hyperbaric doctor was keen to point out that no drink or drug actually dehydrates you, that's bad science, what dehydrates you is not drinking enough water!