Military “You need to get Elete Rehydration Additive.” Paul’s Email message read like an order. “We used it in Kandahar.” My friend was a Canadian Police officer recently returned from a year-long deployment as a firearms instructor with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. His words were wisdom gained from experience. I had sent an Email to my many law enforcement and military friends telling them of my “discovery” of Power Gels. Paul wrote back explaining that he had been a consumer of Power Gels for several years. He reasoned (correctly) that if I had just made my discovery then I probably did not know about Elete. Two of my American military friends who had done tours of duty in Iraq with their Special Operations Units also wrote back to me stressing the critical need to remain hydrated. More words of wisdom from knowledgeable, deadly serious individuals. I picked up the phone and called Elete, actually Mineral Resources International, Inc. in Ogden, Utah. It is a family run business. I spoke with Val Anderson, VP of Marketing. I asked him to send me some samples for evaluation. He was quite enthusiastic and promised to get a package on its way to me ASAP. This past May I decided I needed to get in shape, build-up my stamina and increase my endurance. So I began taking a fast-paced hour-long daily walk, intent on turning it into an hour-long run. I like to work-up a heavy sweat, or I feel like I’m cheating myself. Exercising during mid-day fits my schedule and temperament, so I’m outside when it is hot. And it is hot . . . and dry. I live in northern Jerusalem, Israel, literally across the street from the beginning of the Judean Desert. It did not take long before I realized I needed something to boost my exercise-energy level. I went looking for energy bars and found Energy Gels. They did the job, big-time. I have exercised at least 5 days a week for the past three months. Average temperature has been between 90 and 93 degrees with the heat hitting 95 to 98 degrees a third of the time. Humidity is normally around 18 percent, but for weeks on end Jerusalem has experienced 45 percent humidity. I will admit to not properly hydrating and to not taking hydration with me on my workouts. So I can tell you I have a baseline of cramps, aches, swollen-feeling ankles and sharp pains by which to measure rehydration additives. While waiting for the Elete to arrive I tried several different rehydration powders. One needs to mix a measured amount with water. I did and began rehydrating according to the products’ instructions, both before and during my walk-run. The drinks were sweet. I discovered that properly hydrating relieved my aches and pains. I became a believer. My package from Val Anderson arrived. I really liked the individual plastic tubes of pre-measured liquid electrolyte add-in. Incredibly compact and convenient a dozen of these little tubes in a BDU shirt pocket would soon replace the container of hydration power in my “grab-and-go” pre-packed butt-pack. I began using Elete electrolyte add-in. I have done so for the past two months and I continue to do so. I documented my experience. I always have a liter bottle in the refrigerator for before and after my outdoor exercise. I also take a ½ liter bottle of “Elete Water” with me on every walk-run. I used Jerusalem tap water. It does not taste good. Sometimes it tastes lousy. It tasted no different when the electrolyte was added. For better or worse Elete did not affect the taste. When I used the hydration powders, by the time I had completed my 9.5 kilometer circuit around the neighborhood I had run-out of drink, being a couple of gulps short. This happened even when I took a liter bottle with me on super hot, humid days. In comparison when using Elete I have always made it home with a mouthful of water to spare. When the weatherman reports that “tomorrow the temperature will be extreme,” I put my bottle of “Elete Water” in the freezer overnight. Freezing makes no difference in taste or rate of consumption. I like the fact that Elete does not contain any carbs. I do not want carbohydrates in my rehydration water. I get the all cabs I want in my Power Gel. If I want more carbs I have lots of much more tasty ways of consuming them. I also appreciate not having to clean out the residue hydration powders with carbohydrates leave in my canteen, tube and mouthpiece. Elete’s electrolyte add-in has not left a deposit. Yes, I am enthusiastic about this product. It does what it claims to do. More importantly, it does what I need it to do. I have enough faith in Elete that it is now in my go-bag of essentials. Enough said.
Howard Linett - www.HowardLinett.com
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