 |
Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)Author: AWLS
This is wilderness medicine education from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the Univeristy of Utah. It is designed for use in the Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) program, but anyone who goes into the backcountry should study this material. Log onto: www.wildmedu.org for more information. Language: en-us Genres: Courses, Education, Health & Fitness, Medicine Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Water, Salt, and Sugar: The Science of Hydration in the Backcountry
Sunday, 27 September, 2026
When we’re hiking or exercising for hours, especially in hot conditions, staying hydrated seems simple: drink water. But the physiology of hydration is much more interesting than that.In this episode, we’ll look at what actually happens after you take a drink—how your intestines absorb water, why sodium is important, and why a small amount of carbohydrate can dramatically influence the absorption of both sodium and water. We’ll also discuss practical hydration strategies for hikers, runners, and anyone exercising in the backcountry, including an important warning about drinking too much water.The goal isn’t to turn hydration into a complicated formula. It’s to understand a little of the physiology so you can make better decisions when you’re out on the trail.
