Consult your doctor before using ANY of these products I use.
Dehydration is the number 1 cause of hiker rescues in Sedona—improper footwear is number 2. Drinking water alone is not sufficient to hydrate, you must have sodium and potassium electrolytes, and other minerals.
Hydration products I use and recommend include:
TriOral oral rehydration salts WHO formula for rehydration from cholera. 1695 mg. Sodium, 779 mg. Potassium per packet. Also, a small amount of dextrose greatly increases the uptake of water in the intestine.
Trace Minerals Research Electrolyte Stamina tablets Serving size 6. 270 mg. Sodium, 590 mg. Potassium, 250 mg. Magnesium , 100 mg. Taurine
Dr. Berg Electrolyte Powder 40 mg. Sodium, 1000 mg. Potassium, 120 mg. Magnesium.
Now Magnesium and Potassium Aspartate Serving size 2, 99 mg Potassium, 250 mg. Magnesium, 100 mg. Taurine
Country Life Potassium 99 mg. Potassium per tablet.
The recommended daily amount for potassium is about 2,600 milligrams for adult women and 3,400 for adult men, for sodium 2300 mg for both men and women. From Grok “The FDA caps individual potassium tablets at 99 milligrams because higher doses can irritate your digestive tract or even cause ulcers,” HOWEVER this was tested with potassium chloride. Dr. Berg’s uses potassium citrate. If you’re using potassium tablets make sure you use enough to meaningly increase your uptake. Read the labels.
Trace minerals are almost as important as the electrolytes sodium and potassium for functioning in dry, hot weather.
Mineral products I use include:
Taurine facilitates the uptake of Magnesium.
Hydration precepts;
Hydrate BEFORE heat exposure
Take more potassium than sodium
Take trace minerals
I make sure I hydrate AND take 1500 to 2500 mg. Potassium before setting off on any hot day. In 100 degree temps like we have been experiencing in Sedona this July and August I put a full packet of Trioral and a full serving scoop of Dr Berg Tangerine electrolyte powder in a 1.5 liter water bottle and drink at least half the bottle before eating any breakfast. I also take 3 or 4 Trace Mineral Stamina Tablets before setting out. I take with me about a liter of water with Trioral and usually drink it on the way to the trailhead. Additionally, before hiking I get a 16 oz. plain Matcha green tea, hot with 2 ice cubes and put ½ packet of TriOral in it.
A few anecdotes:
My hiking maxim is you should feel like you have to both pee and throw up at the beginning of a hike.
A family went to Soldier’s Caves in 2024 with one kid wearing Crocs. She got a compound fracture of her leg, was Helivaced out and, last we heard, they had put their house in Missouri up for sale to pay the rescue bills.
A deceptive dehydration and de-mineralization problem can occur from frequent attendance at hot yoga.
I only got introduced to TriOral in 2019 on my 10th trip to the Mt. Everest region of Nepal at age 77. After ascending almost 3000’ feet one day up to 14,500’ I got High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, H.A.P.E.. When I finally got to a medical clinic the doctor gave me these hydration salts and said they were more important than any medication he could give me. So, to be clear, my basic problem was I was DEHYDRATED.
The water store in Sedona used to sell bumper stickers, “Please forgive me for what I said, I was dehydrated.”
