Hydration During Cancer Treatment (And the Best Electrolyte Drinks)
Electrolytes are essential minerals, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, and bicarbonate. They were given that name because they carry an electrical charge when dissolved in water.
That charge allows electrolytes to help regulate your body’s fluids, support muscle function, absorb nutrients, and turn those nutrients into energy. Since your body is about 60% water, electrolytes play an important role in daily functioning.
If there’s too much or too little of these essential minerals in your body, it’s called an electrolyte imbalance. Usually, an electrolyte imbalance can be managed at home by drinking more fluids and eating foods that contain these essential minerals.
There are many electrolyte beverages available at most grocers and other retailers, and there are even DIY electrolyte solutions you can make at home.
Electrolyte imbalance caused by breast cancer treatment
Typically, an electrolyte imbalance happens when you’re dehydrated. This can occur during breast cancer treatment because you’re eating or drinking less, or because side effects like diarrhea and vomiting cause you to lose fluid quickly and repeatedly.
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment-related cause of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, but it can happen with other cancer treatments, too — like Kadcyla (chemical name: T-DM1 or ado-trastuzumab emtansine), a targeted therapy.
The symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance can include:
muscle cramps
fatigue
dizziness
nausea
weakness
Other causes
Certain medical conditions, like kidney disease or eating disorders, may also lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Over-the-counter medications that make you pee (diuretics) or poop more (laxatives) can cause the same issues, too.
Sometimes it happens simply because you’re not drinking enough water.
But home treatment for mild dehydration is usually the same for everyone: drink more fluids, especially fluids with electrolytes.
If you have breast cancer, let your doctor know if you’re concerned about symptoms of dehydration. And if you have fever, irritability, confusion, a fast or irregular heartbeat, seizures or lose consciousness, call 911 immediately — these are signs of severe dehydration that need emergency medical attention.
The best electrolyte drinks for people in cancer treatment
A breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t affect the types of electrolyte drinks you can choose from, so there isn’t one single “best” option.
First and foremost, try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day — it helps if you have a refillable water bottle that you keep with you and refill throughout the day.
Sports drinks
Sports drinks that you find at grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and other retailers are a good option for recovering from dehydration and restoring electrolytes.
If you typically reach for low- or no-sugar options, consider this: beverages with sugar have additional hydration benefits, since both sugar and salt attract water to help keep it in the body.
Coconut water
Coconut water is a beverage with naturally occurring electrolytes — potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. However, it’s relatively low in sodium. Sports drinks are the better choice if you’ve lost a lot of fluids, but coconut water is still a delicious, hydrating option.
Broth
Clear broths contain sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes, whether they’re made from vegetables or animal meat and bones. Bone broth is especially high in calcium and phosphorus. Don’t reach for the low- or no-sodium versions if you’re trying to restore electrolytes.
Electrolyte powders
Electrolyte powders have been on the market for decades, but have become extremely popular in recent years. Though the individual packets are convenient for on-the-go, there are some downsides to these powdered mix-ins.
For example, many electrolyte powders don’t have any added sugars. When you’re dehydrated during cancer treatment, your body benefits from glucose (sugar) along with the sodium in these packets to attract water — and keep it in and around your cells.
Electrolyte powders also often contain additives and preservatives like artificial sweeteners, thickening fillers, synthetic dyes, and anti-caking agents. If you’re dealing with diarrhea or vomiting, ingredients like these may further irritate your gastrointestinal tract.
So if you do opt for individual packets, look for products with short, simple ingredient lists.
Oral rehydration solution (ORS)
Also called oral rehydration therapy (ORT), this simple solution of water, sugar, and salt is used in hospital settings, but it can also be purchased — either over-the-counter or with a prescription — or made at home.
The World Health Organization’s ORS recipe is:
4¼ cups (1 liter) water
½ teaspoon table salt
6 teaspoons sugar
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also suggests the following recipes for at-home rehydration beverages:
2 cups Gatorade + 2 cups water + ½ teaspoon salt
3 cups water + 1 cup orange juice + ¾ teaspoon salt + ½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup grape juice or cranberry juice + 3½ cups water + ½ teaspoon salt
1 cup apple juice + 3 cups water + ½ teaspoon salt
What about foods that contain electrolytes?
If you’re having a hard time drinking enough fluids — or just want to consciously include more essential minerals on a regular basis — you can eat foods that are rich in:
Potassium, like bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon, oranges, salmon, mushrooms, and avocados
Magnesium, like spinach, kale, pumpkin seeds, almonds, lentils, mango, and tuna
Phosphorus, like tofu, chicken, milk, quinoa, and scallops
Calcium, like dairy, okra, acorn squash, and trout
Sodium, like pickles, salted nuts, eggs, pork, shellfish, and dairy
Eating these and other nutritious foods that contain electrolytes is just as effective as drinking electrolyte beverages — as long as you’re also staying hydrated.