We often get asked if HYDRAssist® will stop or reduce muscle cramps during events such as the Comrades marathon and other endurance events. My response is always the same; that the research on this phenomenon is inconclusive but that many people swear by HYDRAssist® as a cure for muscle cramps. I found this article at www.ultrafitness.net that makes for interesting...

by Elson M. Haas, M.D. Potassium is a very significant body mineral, important to both cellular and electrical function. It is one of the main blood minerals called “electrolytes” (the others are sodium and chloride), which means it carries a tiny electrical charge (potential). Potassium is the primary positive ion (cation) found within the cells, where...

Yet a simple and inexpensive treatment can prevent many of those deaths. Why isn’t it more widely used? Oral rehydration has saved the lives of more than 40 million children since it was first put to the test during a cholera outbreak among refugees on India’s border with Bangladesh in 1971. But decades later, it remains grossly underused. The result,...

For more information on hyponatremia see http://www.sa-wellbeing.com/2011/02/hyponatremia-what-is-it/ Since the marketers of sports drinks like to advertise that their drinks contain electrolytes, specifically sodium and potassium, a misconception exists that exercise associated hyponatremia (EAH) can be prevented by their use. However, sports drinks will not keep...

by Leslie S. Funk This is a useful article for those participating in ‘Bickram’ yoga. Text in blue indicated changes made to the original text. Introduction As “hot” Yoga classes gain in popularity, it is crucial to inform potential students how heat affects the body while exercising. This article explains the physiological demands placed on the body while...

Asthma is a very common condition which affects approximately 7-10% of adults and 10-15% of children.  For many patients, symptoms can often be troublesome as well as difficult to control. A recent study published in the Journal of Asthma (Kazaks et al, 2010) , studied the effect of six months of supplementation with oral magnesium citrate (170 mg taken twice daily...

Graham P Bates1 and Veronica S Miller1. 1School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia Graham P Bates: g.bates@curtin.edu.au; Veronica S Miller: v.s.miller@curtin.edu.au Received October 31, 2007; Accepted January 29, 2008. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License...

A summary of Norrie Williamson’s 2011 Comrades Marathon Training Guide. Try not to skip breakfast as this will provide much of the protein and fat required for the remainder of the day. An egg, muffin or buttered bread should provide a good start to the day. Start the race fully hydrated by mixing one sachet of HYDRAssist® into 250 to 500ml water. Sunday 29th May...

Cough and cold season is upon us. With the advent of winter we expect a dramatic increase in the incidence of this nuisance condition. In this article we provide some practical advice to reduce the risk of getting sick. Firstly, let’s understand who is most at risk. The elderly, pregnant women, toddlers, diabetics, people with chronic diseases, people undergoing...

Author: Dr Gordon Coates Dehydration is always dangerous, and unless it is properly treated, it frequently results in permanent disability or death. In 2009, a report published jointly by The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated that about 1.5 million children under the age of five years still die each year...

We need to constantly ‘top-up’ our human radiator because water is always leaving the body in sweat, urination, defecation or simply through breathing. However, from time to time, we see that irrational and excessive water ingestion can be dangerous, even fatal. In 2007 a 28 year old California woman died after competing in a radio station’s on-air...

The Dark Side of Vitaminwater Now here’s something you wouldn’t expect. Coca-Cola is being sued by a non-profit public interest group, on the grounds that the company’s vitaminwater products make unwarranted health claims. No surprise there. But how do you think the company is defending itself? In a staggering feat of twisted logic, lawyers...