Why Are Electrolytes Essential?

Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have an electric charge. They are in your blood, urine, tissues, and other body fluids. Electrolytes are important because they help. Balance the amount of water in your body. They are chemicals that conduct electricity when mixed with water. They regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and help rebuild damaged tissue. The muscles and neurons are sometimes referred to as the “electric tissues” of the body.

Electrolytes are essential minerals, like sodium, calcium, and potassium that are vital to many key functions in the body. They’re often talked about in association with dehydration and mentioned in ads for sports drinks that promise to replace electrolytes lost through sweat.

Your body loses water faster than it loses electrolytes, so most of the time all you need to do is make sure you rehydrate by drinking water. Most people’s regular workouts are not intense enough to require electrolyte replenishment right after the workout is done. There are times when water alone is not sufficient and you also need to replace the electrolytes lost through sweating.

Although each person is different, you usually don’t have to replace electrolytes if your workout is less than an hour. The longer the workout and the more intense the exercise, the more likely you’ll need electrolytes. The warmer the weather and the more you sweat, the more likely you’ll need to replace electrolytes in the body. Again, this will differ for every individual, activity and other factors. Pay attention to signs that your electrolyte levels are too low. Some indications that your electrolytes are low are:

• Muscle Cramps
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Mental Confusion

If you feel like you need to replenish electrolytes after your workout, skip the sports drinks which are full of sugar. Most commercial sports drinks are filled with artificial ingredients, the sugar in them can slow down the rate at which water enters the bloodstream. Instead, you can start to replenish lost electrolytes with the food you eat following your workout. These foods are filled with electrolytes:

• Potassium – bananas, tomatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes
• Sodium – pickles, peanut butter, soup and tomato juice
• Magnesium – leafy greens, almonds, cashews and tofu
• Calcium – yogurt, milk, cheese and kale
• Chloride – celery, lettuce, olives and table salt

All these foods are filled with electrolytes which will help replenish your body. You can also use total Hydration electrolyte supplements to get your body back into balance. Common symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance are:

• irregular heartbeat
• fast heart rate
• fatigue
• lethargy
• convulsions or seizures
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea or constipation
• abdominal cramping
• muscle cramping
• muscle weakness
• irritability
• confusion
• headaches
• numbness and tingling

Although electrolytes are probably not necessary. Your body loses water faster than it loses electrolytes, so most of the time all you need to do is make sure you drink water to rehydrate. Most people’s regular workouts are not intense enough to require electrolyte replenishment right after the workout is done. An electrolyte imbalance occurs when the levels of electrolytes in your body are either too high or too low. Electrolytes need to be maintained in an even balance for your body to function properly. Otherwise, vital body systems can be affected. Now you know why electrolytes and electrolyte replenishment is important!!!