After COVID-19 infection, replenishing water and electrolyte balance is an important means of recovery. Recently, the method of making homemade electrolyte water by mixing lemon slices, sugar, salt, and warm water has become popular on the Internet, and various electrolyte water alternatives have been circulated.
Are these supplementary methods reliable?
netizen shared the method of making electrolyte water.
Mix lemon slices, salt, sugar, and warm water to make homemade electrolyte water
"Lemon slices, mixed with 3 grams of salt, 10 grams of sugar, and 1000 ml of 45°C warm water can prevent dehydration and electrolyte disorders ." This is a widely circulated method of making homemade electrolyte water. Yun Wuxin, a Ph.D. in biology and food engineering, told the People's Daily Health Client reporter on December 20 that in terms of composition, the electrolytes needed by the human body are mainly composed of sodium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions and other ions. Making homemade electrolyte water uses potassium ions in lemons, sodium ions in table salt, glucose components in white sugar, etc. to help us maintain the balance of the body. "When the body is dehydrated and is in urgent need of electrolyte replenishment, this homemade electrolyte water can play a certain supplementary role."
Electrolyte drinks and brewed electrolyte powder
After the number of positive infections increased, many merchants were out of stock of electrolyte water, electrolyte drinks and other products. Can people with positive infections choose such products?
Yun Wuxin said that compared to the method of making homemade electrolyte water, it is more convenient and safer to purchase well-matched electrolyte powder, or ready-made electrolyte water, electrolyte drinks and other products. "Compared with already prepared electrolyte powder and electrolyte water, the ingredients of homemade electrolyte water are relatively simple, and for the human body, it is only better than nothing. The ingredients of well-matched electrolyte products are more scientific, and they can be used first if conditions permit."
Various foods and drinks can replace electrolyte water
In addition, many netizens have also shared ways to use rice soup, salt replenishment solution, coconut water, apple juice, etc. to replace electrolyte water.
Zhong Kai, member of the Standing Committee of the Health Communication Branch of the Chinese Society of Preventive Medicine and director of the Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center, told the People's Daily Health Client reporter that drinking electrolyte water is indeed not the only way to replenish electrolytes. "Actually, many of the foods we eat daily can absorb electrolytes and enter the blood to become a source of maintaining the body's electrolyte balance. For positive infected people who can eat normally, as long as they ensure a normal diet, there is no need to supplement electrolytes." Yun Wuxin also pointed out that juice, milk, nuts, soy products, meat, etc., can all help us achieve electrolyte balance to a certain extent.
It is worth reminding that not every positive infected person needs to supplement electrolytes. Zhong Kai pointed out that the scope of application of electrolyte water is for people who sweat a lot due to high fever, or who suffer from repeated vomiting and diarrhea in a short period of time. Because these people lose electrolytes too quickly, they need to supplement some electrolytes to achieve the balance of the body. However, ordinary positive infection patients with mild symptoms do not need additional electrolytes.
Yun Wuxin also said that electrolyte supplementation should be viewed rationally, and many people even regard drinking electrolyte water as a "treatment method." In fact, only people who sweat a lot need to replenish electrolytes. An important component of electrolyte water is salt. If too much electrolytes are replenished when unnecessary, it will lead to us taking in more salt to a certain extent, which is still detrimental to the overall health of the body.
Source: People's Daily Health Client
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