Spacewalks,
extreme G forces, micro-gravity - astronauts must be able to handle it all.
Staying hydrated and healthy is crucial.
To help
astronauts avoid
muscle fatigue and dizziness from dehydration, NASA scientists developed an
electrolyte formula that is now available for weekend warriors and athletes
here on Earth. The formula is a concentrated liquid that when mixed with water quickly
restores hydration and prevents fluid loss.
Scientists
at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., put 15 years of
research into the drink's development. NASA astronauts have been drinking the
formula on missions for nearly 20 years. The commercial version was licensed
to Wellness Brands Inc. of Boulder, Colo., and branded "The Right Stuff."
They shipped their first orders on June 11.
"We
developed the hydration formula to perform optimally under the most extreme conditions.
The health of our highly trained astronauts was paramount," said John
Greenleaf, a former Ames research scientist and inventor of the formula, in a
recent statement. "With all that Americans and the government have
invested in the space program and our astronauts, this is one clear way to
protect and maximize that investment."
Endurance
run
A NASA
study from early in the drink's development found that the drink boosts
endurance by 20 percent compared to water alone or drinks containing carbohydrates.
During
exertion, whether on a space mission or at a softball game, your
body sweats and loses water, which throws your cells' electrolytes out of balance.
The formula works by restoring these electrolytes through a NASA-patented blend
of sodium chloride (sea salt) and sodium citrate, making the drink isotonic,
meaning it helps the body maintain the right amount of water on the inside and
outside of its cells.
The formula
was developed without sugar or carbohydrates because they interfere with the
body's electrolyte absorption, said David Belaga, president and CEO of Wellness
Brands.
The NASA
version of the formula has a naturally salty taste, "about same level of
sodium as a cup of chicken noodle soup," Belaga told SPACE.com. To
improve taste, sucralose, a zero-calorie artificial sweetener, has been added. Sucralose,
while derived from sugar, is not recognized as a carbohydrate by the body and
is not metabolized, Belaga said.
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