Does pedialyte contain potassium?

Here at the world-renowned Institute of Child Adequacy, we get a lot of questions about proper nutrition for children. And let’s face it, when you’re juggling TV time, naps and playgroups, trying to keep your kid nourished can be as daunting as assembling IKEA furniture with only a hammer and some toothpicks. Luckily, there are products out there that can help ease this burden. Enter Pedialyte – the drinkable cure-all for everything from stomach bugs to active toddlers in need of rehydration after running too many errands with mom.

Pedialyte has been around since 1966 and is marketed primarily as an electrolyte-containing solution designed to combat dehydration in infants, children and adults alike. As parents ourselves, we know how important it is to make sure that whatever our kids put into their little bodies won’t cause any harm or imbalance down the line– hence why one might ask: “does Pedialyte contain potassium?”

All About Electrolytes

Before even diving into whether or not Pedialyte contains potassium (which we’ll definitely get to), let’s talk about what electrolytes actually are! An electrolyte is basically just a fancy science word used to describe a charged particle that conducts electricity within bodily fluids like blood or urine.

Sodium

Sodium is probably the most well-known among common electrolytes due to its presence in household salt shakers worldwide. In fact, excessive sodium intake has been linked with increased risk for developing hypertension — which makes us question anyone who chows down on salty snacks left right and center…

Chloride

Ah yes – chloride! You’ve heard so much about it but may have no idea what role it plays in our precious bods…well hold onto your hats folks because here comes some serious knowledge coming your way: chloride combines with hydrogen to form hydrochloric acid (HCL), which is found in our stomachs and breaks down all the yummy things we eat!

Potassium

And now…everyone’s favorite electrolyte! Why? Because potassium helps muscles contract, including those of the heart. Plus, it also helps balance out the sodium-potassium pump that maintains cellular fluids.

Pedialyte Ingredients

So are you ready for the big reveal? Does Pedialyte contain potassium or not? The answer is yes! Not only does it contain sodium chloride and glucose, but each flavor has a slightly different set of ingredients – while still containing plenty of essential electrolytes such as potassium.

According to their official site, here’s a breakdown of some basic ingredients within your standard-flavor Pedialyte:

  • Water
  • Dextrose
  • Citric Acid
  • Salt
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Potassium Citrate

Let’s take another look at that last ingredient — potassium citrate. This element ultimately ends up being broken down by our kidneys into its components: citrate and potassium ions. So kids are basically getting two-for-one with this combo element.

All three flavors — Grape, Cherry Punch & Lemonade — all have similar nutritional facts when compared to one another (did someone say taste-test time??):

Base Flavor Calories Carbohydrates Sugars
Grape 35 9g 9g
Cherry Punch 35 9g <1 g
Lemonade 30 7g <1 g

Hot tip: If deciding which color/flavor/shape pedialyte bottle seems like more work than digging through an IKEA instruction manual, you can’t go wrong with any choice! All three options contain the same base ingredients and nutritional facts.

When to Use Pedialyte

The next question that comes up quite frequently is: when should I be reaching for a bottle of Pedialyte? We’re glad you asked.

According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. This fact may seem obvious enough – but did you know dehydration can sometimes be CAUSED by drinking water when what our bodies really need is replenishment of those all-important electrolytes? So don’t always assume “hydration” = “water consumption.”

The Bottom Line

So there we have it folks: does Pedialyte contain potassium? Yes! Alongside some other crucial elements including glucose and sodium chloride, this trusty rehydration tool contains plenty of beneficial electrolytes such as potassium citrate. Plus its available in 3 fun flavors your kids will love, ensuring they get rehydrated without realizing they’re actually consuming something healthy!

No matter which flavor tickles your fancy or peak your little one’s interests,make sure it stays well stocked in case of unforeseen emergencies or just jogging on a hot sunny day- after all…a hydrated child equals happy parent!

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