Pedialyte Is A Hydration Powerhouse, And It's Not Just For Kids

Anyone who's had a nasty stomach bug or a wicked hangover knows the magic that Pedialtye can conjure. Initially marketed for children, the electrolyte solution has gained popularity among adults due to the highly effective way it cures dehydration symptoms. Unlike other hydration formulas, Pedialyte is medical-grade and has been sold for years as an over-the-counter treatment to restore fluid loss. It may have been created for kids, but this is serious stuff.

Pedialyte's formula is specifically designed to combat dehydration due to stomach-borne illnesses and thus contains a mixture of additives that can both rehydrate and prevent further dehydration. The main players at work are the electrolytes sodium, chloride, and potassium, which work in tandem to help the body's cells function to help absorb and process more water. Additionally, the drink also replenishes lost zinc, which can help prevent bouts of diarrhea. Dextrose usually sweetens flavored Pedialyte, though sugar-free versions targeted more towards adults are on the market.

When Abbott Laboratories first launched Pedialyte in 1966, it was only available in hospital settings. That changed in 1969 when the health care company experimented with bringing the medicinal drink to consumer shelves. The first available flavor was the now-extinct banana which was sold in cans before it switched to resealable bottles in 1985. Suffice it to say that Pedialyte has been around for quite a while, but its popularity in the adult market is relatively recent.

Adult use of Pedialyte most likely started with athletes, who recognized the kid drink as a well-tuned rehydration elixir to enjoy after intense workouts. A New York Times article written in 2007 recounts how wrestling coach Gavin Bannat gave it to his teenage team but found resistance from parents who thought it was for "babies." Twitter provided a way for grown adults to praise Pedialyte, and by 2009, influential personalities from college football players to Carson Daly were going public with an unintended use for the electrolyte beverage. It turns out Pedialyte was a miracle cure for hangovers.

Although Pedialyte was created to combat vomiting and diarrhea, it's no surprise that it counteracts the nasty effects of drinking too much alcohol. Your body removes booze faster than other liquids through urination, perspiration, and respiration. In other words, you pee, sweat, and breathe it out, which means that you quickly lose electrolytes. Adults quickly discovered through social media that Pedialyte wasn't only a hangover antidote but a more effective way to hydrate than sports drinks.

Adult sales went up 57% from 2012 to 2015, making up a whopping third of the Pedialyte market. Young Thug was rapping about Pedialyte, and Pharrell Williams stated that he drank it almost every day. It was time for Abbott to start marketing the drink in its mature zenith. In 2015, marketers gave powdered packets out at music festivals and sports games, and in 2018, a new product spin-off called "Pedialyte Sparkling Rush" with a bubbly fizz hit the shelves. There was also a commercial featuring a dad rushing to the fridge in a hangover haze to grab a bottle before getting caught by his daughter. The accompanying motto read #notjustforkids, admitting that hydration doesn't discriminate against age.