Electrolytes don’t make your body move, however, they do enable it to run efficiently. Like a battery in the car, these minerals found in your blood and the other body fluids trigger voltages that carry electrical impulses – in kind of nerve nerves as well as muscle contractions across your cells.
The electricity keeps your organs operating properly. Electrolytes actually help maintain the best performance of your digestive, nervous, muscular, and cardiac systems. Now we will cover a few fundamental aspects like how your body regulates electrolytes, the indications of having unbalanced electrolytes, and the most crucial aspect, how to replenish your electrolytes.
How the body regulates electrolytes
Your kidneys are the hub for electrolyte monitoring. They monitor changes in your body through shifts in the electrolyte level.
Exercise that is intense is the most typical way to shed electrolytes. The hotter the temperature, as well as the harder the workout the more water lost. In the words of the American College of Sports Medicine On average, people lose between 2 and 6 percent of the body weight they carry during exercise sessions due to sweating.
Another prime cause of electrolyte loss is the cause of chronic symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting. It is essential to replenish these fluids to avoid dehydration and keep essential body functions running properly.
Also, if you are an avid exerciser do a vigorous exercise regimen, or have a medical problem that requires close surveillance of your liquid intake and exercise. Edrea Jones M.D. an expert neurologist, suggests speaking with your physician to ensure you know your limits and your water requirements.
“Staying hydrated is key to proper body function,” Dr. Jones.
Evidence of an electrolyte imbalance
If the level of the electrolyte in your body is too either too high or insufficient, you are at risk of developing:
- Dizziness
- Cramps
- Irregular heartbeat
- Mental confusion
- The most typical manifestation of low electrolytes can be muscle cramping, which is painful and debilitating.
Maintaining electrolyte levels The best way to keep electrolytes balanced in your body is to be aware of your thirst. Dr. Jones recommends drinking about two cups of fluids every two hours prior to physical activity. Try drinking up to 6 ounces of water every between 15 and 20 minutes during physical activity. Also, make sure to drink following your workout.
How to replenish electrolytes
Staying hydrated is key to maintaining a balance of electrolytes. The most natural option for drinking water. It’s more affordable and more accessible than other drinks. If you are planning on running a marathon, you need to make sure you drink plenty of water before and during, and make sure that your marathon fuel is ready to go.
Coconut water is an alternative to replenish electrolytes. Coconut water isn’t high in the glycemic index which means it doesn’t significantly affect the level of blood sugar. There is also evidence that it could help lower cholesterol and blood pressure which is a good reason to drink it.
But the sports drinks are usually more appealing. The drinks in sports contain electrolytes and carbohydrates that replenish the body’s energy. Many sports drinks contain sodium chloride or potassium chloride included and are electrolytes majorly eliminated when exercising. The addition of sugar and flavor are often used to entice people to drink an increased quantity than water.
Drinks to avoid
Fruit juices, carbonated soft drinks, and energy drinks should be avoided as water sources. They contain far too much sugar and empty calories. The carbs contained present in these drinks are short bursts of energy but not the long-term advantages. “Staying well-hydrated benefits our bodies in so many intricate ways,” Dr. Jones. “Our bodies are extremely complex and water is the apex of life, and we can’t live without it. It’s why no one could survive more than three to five days without any intake of water.”