A simple guide to electrolytes
You may have heard of the term electrolytes, but do you know why they are important? Read on to get an overview of electrolytes and discover the role they play in your body.
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are essential minerals that help your cells, muscles and organs to function properly.
Electrolytes play an important role in helping your body perform many important functions, like:
- Regulating fluid balance
- Transmitting nerve signals
- Regulating muscle contractions
- Keep you hydrated.
What are the main electrolytes?
The electrolytes that athletes need to be aware of are sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium.
Other main electrolytes include chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate.
Electrolytes work together in the body and perform a wide range of functions. For example, muscles need a healthy balance of magnesium and potassium to function properly. Doing a hard workout or going for a long run causes you to sweat excessively and lose electrolytes.
If you don’t hydrate properly, you won’t replenish those lost electrolytes. As a result, you may feel fatigued and you may even feel your muscles twitch when your dehydrated.
How do we maintain healthy electrolyte levels?
In general, you can get all the electrolytes you need from eating a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and staying hydrated.
But if you’re doing activities that cause you to sweat and lose a lot of fluids, like a hard workout, then you may need to replenish the electrolytes you lose.
Why are electrolytes important for athletes?
Becoming dehydrated and losing electrolytes won’t just make you feel thirsty – it can also impact your athletic performance. Your body can’t function at its best when you’re depleted of essential electrolytes.
If you want to perform well, it’s important to hydrate and fuel with electrolytes during exercise.
Sports drinks that contain electrolytes are a popular choice for athletes, as they’re specifically designed to deliver fluid and essential electrolytes for hydration.
The final word
Even feeling mildly thirsty can be a sign that you’re becoming dehydrated and losing electrolytes. Drinking water is the best way to prevent dehydration and replenish any lost electrolytes.
But if you’re losing a lot of fluid, increasing electrolytes with a sports drink can also help you to stay hydrated during intense workouts.
Berocca Sport is a formulated supplementary sports food to be consumed in conjunction with a nutritious diet and appropriate physical training or exercise program. Not a sole source of nutrition.
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