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Water Water IV

© Jane Adamo

(this is Part IV and the conclusion of the article I began in June and continued in July and last month)

Dr. Tom Donnelley used to see me off from an appointment with a cheery, "Get them to drink more water!" Dr. Donnelley has a diabolical sense of humor. Because I really have wracked my brains trying to figure out a way to get them to drink more water.

Some ratters have said to try loading the water bottle with Gatorade. I haven't tried this out of sheer laziness -- it would certainly be the easiest thing for me to buy it and put a second water bottle of Gatorade in each cage and see which gets consumed fastest. My question is: if they drink more Gatorade, is that good?

Gatorade is a sport beverage developed at the University of Florida to keep football players (their "Gators") hydrated. It is designed to accomplish 3 things: Rapid fluid absorption -- hydration: actually even OVER hydration -- provide carbohydrate energy, and replace electrolytes: salts lost in sweat.

It was determined that beverages containing up to a 6% carbohydrate level and a small amount of sodium would provide the best hydration. If you had a carbohydrate level of 7% or above, the sugars would work to hamper hydration which is why very sweet drinks don't work. The carbohydrate in Gatorade is glucose the one most readily used by the human body but also contains small amounts of sucrose and fructose.

Gatorade is also formulated to encourage you to drink LOTS OF LIQUID -- to actually go beyond your point of satiation. They determined that lightly sweetened and flavored non-carbonated beverages are consumed by humans in greater quantities than plain water, carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks. So even after you've said "enough" to water, you'll still take a few more gulps of Gatorade.

And of course, the salts in Gatorade do the same thing: they make you feel even thirstier than you are so you'll consume more liquid. Plain water doesn't have these electyrolytes -- sodium and potassium.

I'd like to point out that some of this has been disputed, especially the presence and "benefits" of the sugar in your water, no matter how low the level. Certainly, the sugar isn't doing much nutritional good for you or your rats although it does (as a sport drink is meant to) give quick carbohydrate energy. but unless your rat is doing hurdles, one might ask, "Why?"

The copyright of the article Water Water IV in Rats is owned by Jessica Lavery. Permission to republish Water Water IV in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.