The episode “Engine Nine, Feelin’ Fine!” was one of my daughter’s favorites from the Disney TV show “Doc McStuffins.” She enjoyed when Doc and the toys would sing about “Water, water, water, water; You got to drink way more water than you think.” Although the song and episode serve as a good reminder to children about staying hydrated, it looks like adults could use the same reminder.

Conducted for Abbott, a new Harris Poll survey found that a majority of U.S. adults who exercise intensely understand the importance of maintaining hydration throughout a workout (93%) and that hydration is important for muscle recovery (89%); however, the survey found some have misconceptions about the type of hydration that could impact their ability to perform and recover optimally.

In the survey, 46% of respondents who report regular, intense exercise at least three days a week indicated that energy drinks and soda can aid in rehydration after a strenuous workout. However, Abbott explains that is in conflict with guidance from the scientific community as these drinks can contribute to dehydration because of sugar content and insufficient levels of electrolytes.

“Water makes up nearly 75% of every cell in your body, making its replacement during and after exercise essential to everyday health,” said Craig Horswill, clinical associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in a statement. “What many don’t realize is that electrolytes also help direct the flow of water in and out of cells, helping to support rehydration and muscle repair. Carbohydrates like glucose are needed to pull the electrolytes and water into the body during rehydration, yet too much sugar can slow rehydration and delay recovery.”

To educate consumers about smart hydration, Abbott, maker of Pedialyte, and Jeanette Jenkins, human kinetics expert and one of the nation's leading health and fitness coaches, are encouraging fitness enthusiasts to focus on the quality of an electrolyte beverage because these ingredients can impact hydration status and make it easier for muscles to function and recover.

In 2020, Abbott released Pedialyte Sport to help athletes avoid negative symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration like muscle cramping, fatigue and headache by replacing fluid/water lost in sweat, it says.

“Created specifically for athletes, Pedialyte Sport is designed for fast rehydration and replenishment of fluid and electrolytes during recovery,” said Chris Calamari, senior vice president of U.S. nutrition at Abbott, in a statement.

SOS Hydration also is getting the word out about proper hydration.

“People don't realize that if we are as little as 2% dehydrated, it can contribute to low concentration, fatigue, headaches, poor sleep, poor performance, and illness,” said SOS Hydration CEO James Mayo, who is a veteran and former middle-distance runner.

"Everyone should pre-hydrate to start their day. Our solution has been scientifically proven to increase performance and hydration absorption rate," Mayo added.

A high-performance beverage that is low in sugar, high in electrolytes and backed by proven research, SOS Hydration announced a partnership with TV’s “Shark Tank” judge Kevin Harrington who plans to help accelerate SOS Hydration's triple-digit growth to homes around the country.

With smart hydration such an important part of consumers’ lives, beverage-makers continue to use their expertise to offer the products they need to achieve that goal.