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When most people think of Pedialyte, they probably think of the electrolyte filled drink that pediatricians recommend for sick children.
But is Pedialyte good for weight loss or do the electrolytes make a difference?
Does Pedialyte Promote Weight Loss?
Pedialyte contains fewer calories and sugar than most sports drinks (i.e., Gatorade), but overall there is no evidence to support using electrolytes or Pedialyte for weight loss [1].
However, Pedialyte contains calcium which is one of the only electrolytes beneficial to losing weight. And its other electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium) support essential life functions on top of being beneficial to our nerves, heart, muscles, and brain [2] [3].
That being said, individuals can drink Pedialyte while working towards weight loss, but due to the bloating, they should avoid drinking Pedialyte if they hope to look skinny in the next couple of hours or days.
Does Pedialyte Make You Bloated or Gain Water Weight?
Some people worry about consuming drinks with electrolytes because excess sodium can cause fluid retention. And Pedialyte is no different. Too much Pedialyte will make you bloat in water weight and this could make you temporarily look “inflated”.
However, sodium in hydration drinks is beneficial for the fluid balance and overall healthy as long as you don’t exceed 2,300 mgs [4] [5]. Besides getting bloated, it’s important to understand that too much sodium can result in a dangerous condition known as hyponatremia [6].
Health Benefits of Pedialyte
One major benefit of drinking Pedialyte is hydration and of course, hydration is one of the main weight-loss rules to abide by. Whether it’s after exercise, being out in the heat, or losing fluids from being sick, Pedialyte may be the solution.
In addition, using Pedialyte as an intra or post-workout option for rehydration will also help in recovery because it contains vital minerals needed for muscle recovery. Electrolytes have also proven to be heart healthy by reducing blood pressure [7]. Ultimately, this helps in reducing heart attack and stroke risks and leads to improved health overall.
Drinking Pedialyte for Weight Loss FAQ
- What is The Pedialyte Diet?
Some people use extreme methods to lose weight. One of these extreme methods involves eating very little food–like only grapes–and drinking Pedialyte. These types of crash diets are not safe and should not be used to lose weight [8].
- How Many Calories Are in Pedialyte?
There are several different types of Pedialyte products. However, there are about 25-35 calories in a serving of Pedialyte and 100 calories in an entire bottle.
- Can I Drink Pedialyte Every day?
There are many health benefits to drinking Pedialyte but it is not necessary to drink every day. Because Pedialyte aids in recovery and rehydration, it can be consumed on days that one exercises or is in the hot sun.
For individuals who will be in the heat or exercise every day, then it is fine to consume daily. However, on rest days, or days where one is not active, it is not necessary to drink Pedialyte.
Think of Pedialyte as a tool to aid in sickness and rehydration after vigorous activity as a guide for usage.
- Is it Safe to Drink a Whole Bottle of Pedialyte?
The average Pedialyte product has about 50% of one’s daily sodium needs per day. While drinking Pedialyte is safe, consuming an entire bottle might not be. Consider the amount of fluid lost during exercise as well as the amount of sodium consumed throughout the day from food and other beverages.
It is important to keep an eye on sodium intake so it does not exceed the recommended daily amounts.
- Can I Drink Pedialyte on Keto?
A serving of unflavored Pedialyte contains 6 grams of carbohydrates which makes it a “keto friendly” drink if the individual keeps their carb intake to less than 50 grams. In addition, a lack of carbohydrates can lead to an electrolyte imbalance–creating the need for more electrolytes when on the keto diet.
- Can I Drink Pedialyte While Intermittent Fasting?
As far as intermittent fasting goes, one serving of unflavored Pedialyte contains 25 calories so it will break a fast. However, Pedialyte is perfectly fine as long as they’re not within your fasting window.
Final Thoughts
While Pedialyte isn’t necessarily good for weight loss, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have health benefits. For athletes and those who exercise, Pedialyte is a great way to rehydrate after an intense workout or when out in the heat.
It also aids in muscle recovery and prevents muscle cramps so stop eating junk food and sugar after a workout and give Pedialyte a try instead. Just be careful of the sodium.
References
[1] Wikipedia contributors. (2021, October 9). Pedialyte. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedialyte
[2] (2021, March 25). Diabetic ketoacidosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetic-ketoacidosis.html
[3] Shrimanker, I., & Bhattarai, S. (2021). Electrolytes. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541123/
[4] Evans, G. H., James, L. J., Shirreffs, S. M., & Maughan, R. J. (2017). Optimizing the restoration and maintenance of fluid balance after exercise-induced dehydration. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md.: 1985), 122(4), 945–951. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28126906/
[5] Noakes T. D. (1993). Fluid replacement during exercise. Exercise and sport sciences reviews, 21, 297–330. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8504845/
[6] Rondon H, Badireddy M. Hyponatremia. [Updated 2021 Jan 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470386/
[7] Iqbal, S., Klammer, N., & Ekmekcioglu, C. (2019). The Effect of Electrolytes on Blood Pressure: A Brief Summary of Meta-Analyses. Nutrients, 11(6), 1362. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061362
[8]. Joshi, S., & Mohan, V. (2018). Pros & cons of some popular extreme weight-loss diets. The Indian journal of medical research, 148(5), 642–647. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1793_18