IN 1965 SCIENTISTS at the University of Florida mixed an unusual cocktail(不寻常的混合饮品) of water, sugar and salt for the college’s American football players. The drink tasted like urine, but the Florida Gators(① 背景：Florida Gators ...) downed(一口气喝下) it anyway. With lemon juice added for flavour, Gatorade—as the drink was called—was designed to replenish(补充（损耗物）) the minerals lost through sweating during hard training sessions in the southern heat. The team reckoned it also boosted their stamina(耐力，持久力) on game day.
1965 年，佛罗里达大学的科学家为该校的美式足球运动员配制了一种由水、糖和盐组成的非同寻常的混合饮料。这种饮料尝起来像尿液，但佛罗里达短吻鳄队还是把它灌了下去。加柠檬汁调味后，这种被称为“佳得乐”的饮料旨在补充在南方高温下的艰苦训练中因出汗而流失的矿物质。球队认为它还能在比赛日增强耐力。
Gatorade was an early electrolyte drink(电解质饮料), a category of beverage now popular among athletes, gymgoers and schoolchildren. Influencers on social media hawk(（沿街）叫卖，兜售) the stuff as a way for ordinary people to achieve “superior” hydration. But who actually needs it?
佳得乐是一种早期的电解质饮料，这类饮品如今在运动员、健身爱好者和学生中很受欢迎。社交媒体上的网红大肆兜售这种东西，声称它能帮助普通人实现“超级”补水。但真正需要它的是谁呢？
Electrolytes are charged particles(带电粒子) of minerals such as calcium and potassium that are essential for a healthy body. By creating the voltage differences(电压差) that drive electrical signals between cells, electrolytes enable everything from muscle movement to body temperature. A healthy diet provides plenty of electrolytes. But as large quantities are lost in sweat, those engaged in intense activity must take pains(费尽心力，努力) to replace the lost minerals when they rehydrate. As water alone can dilute(稀释) the electrolytes in the blood, says Dileep Lobo of the University of Nottingham, electrolyte supplements are sometimes needed.
电解质是钙和钾等矿物质的带电粒子，对健康身体至关重要。通过产生驱动细胞间电信号的电压差，电解质使一切活动成为可能，从肌肉运动到体温调节。健康饮食提供了充足的电解质。但大量电解质随汗液流失时，从事高强度活动的人在补水时必须费力补充流失的矿物质。诺丁汉大学的迪利普·洛博表示，仅用水可能会稀释血液中的电解质，因此有时需要电解质补充剂。