If you’ve been feeling unwell lately, you might be interested in learning about the benefits of drinking electrolytes. Read on for some helpful health research about electrolyte imbalance and easy to follow tips on hydration.
Electrolytes are minerals that contain an electrical charge. They’re found in our blood, urine, tissues, and other body fluids.
Ideally, we should get electrolytes from the food we eat.
If this balance is disrupted, it may lead to dehydration or overhydration.
The fluctuating fluids in our body also influence the amount of electrolytes we have in our system.
As you might already know, I’m a bestselling health and wellness author – who literally wrote the book on how to live healthier.
My bestseller Life is Long shares a wide range of cutting edge research on improving immunity, boosting longevity and improving clarity of mind.
In this particular article, I’m going to share some interesting research about the health benefits of drinking electrolytes and the signs of electrolyte imbalance.
Hydrating with water is a great way to maintain a good level of electrolytes in our body. Some even take it further and drink fluids that are specially made with high electrolytes, such as sports drinks and smoothies. These kinds of drinks are highly beneficial to our body for the following reasons.
Our body loses electrolytes in a number of different activities. When we are losing too much electrolytes, it can lead us to experience dehydration, a condition where more water and fluids leave the body.
Now our body contains fluids that are found inside and outside of our cells. The number of these fluids should be fairly consistent at all times, and electrolytes help regulate this level.
Admittedly, it’s normal for electrolyte levels to fluctuate.
You may experience headaches, irregular heartbeat, or fatigue. You may also experience muscle cramping, confusion, irritability, and digestive problems.
Prevent yourself from experiencing these symptoms by making sure that your body receives the right number of electrolytes. You can do this by drinking an electrolyte drink, especially if you’re an athlete.
As mentioned above, electrolyte imbalance can cause muscle cramping. All athletes know that a cramp can severely affect performance. However, many people neglect cramping as a symptom because they believe it’s just the body’s normal reaction to strenuous activities.
For those who are fortunate enough to not suffer from the painful effects of cramping, you still need to provide the right number of electrolytes to your body consistently. Why? Because electrolytes are not just meant for preventing muscle cramps, they are also responsible for keeping our bodily functions to run at optimal levels.
When our body reaches that point, our performance is heavily compromised and you really don’t want that to happen, especially if you’re an athlete.
Athletes understand the true importance of electrolytes in our body. Exercises require more than just replenishing calories and drinking enough water to stay hydrated. A consistent and adequate number of electrolytes is also necessary to fuel themselves throughout warm-ups and actual games.
An athlete would need more electrolytes to power up during strenuous movements. Non-athletes, on the other hand, won’t need as much. You’ll need to experiment a bit to figure out your proper needs.
As they say, prevention is better than cure. You should not wait until you experience muscle cramps before you replenish your body with electrolytes. Consistent replenishment is just as important as the fuel and drinks you consume when you are working out.
Our body’s electrolyte levels also determine how much water is found in our cells. When the ratio of water to electrolytes is right, this means that our cells are properly hydrated.
You can prevent this imbalance by eating electrolyte-rich and healthy foods such as Kale and Bananas.
Our kidneys are also responsible for maintaining the electrolyte concentration in our body, especially the daily consumption and excretion of electrolytes and water. They work to filter electrolytes and water from our blood, return some of them to our blood, and excrete the excess amount through our urine.
Our body should maintain a pH level between 7.35 to 7.45 to function well. Any alterations to this number can cause our body to go haywire and would sometimes lead to severe implications. Having the right balance of electrolytes in our body is also essential to maintain a normal pH level. If the body’s electrolyte levels are imbalanced, our pH levels will fluctuate which can cause a variety of health issues such as metabolic acidosis or alkalosis.
Electrolytes such as potassium and calcium are essential to our body as they help transmit nerve signals and stimulate muscle contractions for our brain and heart. Since electrolytes have electrical charge, they carry electrical impulses that stimulate nerve responses and muscle contractions throughout our body. In short, electrolytes are essential for our nerve organs and muscles to move and function properly.
The electrolytes that you lose throughout the day must be replenished either by drinking electrolytes or consuming electrolyte-rich foods. Fortunately, there are many sports drinks that can easily give you the right amount of electrolytes you need on the go. So, it’s now easier to replenish yourself, even if you are working out in the gym or going for long jogs at the park.
While there are vitamins that contain common electrolytes such as calcium and magnesium, the best sources would still be drinks, fruits, and vegetables. The fluids from these sources don’t just replenish electrolytes in your body, but they also prevent dehydration as well.
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