Electrolytes are minerals found in your body. They break into smaller particles called ions when they are dissolved in water. Their main purpose is to regulate the fluids within your body, helping to balance blood pH. They also create the electrical impulses required for all types of physical activity. Included in this area are basic cell functions such as the neuromuscular communication involved in physical activity.
By eating a well-balanced diet you’re likely receiving adequate amounts of electrolytes to begin with. When they are consumed the electrolytes will separate into a mixture of positive and negative ions. They then become charged either by the ions found in the water inside the bloodstream or among the surrounding cells.
Among their functions at this point, water serves as a conductor which allows the ions to find their way to the membranes, carrying fluid, nutrients as well as waste. This process will then trigger the various nerve impulses along with muscle function. It also allows the ions found in the bloodstream to neutralize various acids dumped as waste throughout the bloodstream.
If your hydration and electrolyte levels are balanced, normal physical functions won’t be an issue. However, adding exercise could result in a shift of these levels. Electrolytes become more concentrated which will result in depletion over time. This particular situation can hinder the performance of athletes, and in extreme cases it is entirely possible to experience serious medical illnesses.
Among the electrolytes dispersed when we sweat, sodium is the most relevant, followed by water levels. As a result of losing water more rapidly than we lose electrolytes, the need for replacing lost minerals during shorter periods of exercise is not as critical as it would be during higher endurance activity.
When participating in longer workouts or more strenuous activity your body can become lacking in not only sodium, but other electrolytes too. If these levels fall too low, you may begin having important loss of neuromuscular function. In these particular circumstances it becomes more vital to replace these lacking electrolytes, since as a result you could find your body begins to shut down.
It’s important to replace fluid levels as well as electrolytes as soon as possible. You may not feel thirsty, but it is still imperative to replenish what has been used. Fortunately it isn’t hard to achieve this balance. Being associated with hydration levels, using sports drinks may be the most efficient source of replenishment.
Not only do sports drinks provide you with adequate amounts of the most important electrolytes, they also provide carbohydrates for energy as well as water necessary for rehydration. Key elements to look for are sodium and chloride, being the two we lose more of through sweat. By grabbing a sports drink, you don’t have the guesswork to deal with in regards to amounts needed of any particular electrolyte.
Typical athletes should be consuming twenty to forty fluid ounces each hour. Another point to consider is the amount of sodium in your chosen sports drink. The normal range is approximately 100mg for every eight ounces, and is vital when participating in any physical activity lasting more than one hour.
Other important electrolytes to look for in a sports drink are chloride and potassium. Knowing the importance of balanced electrolytes for your body’s optimum health will arm you with the information needed in order to make the appropriate choices for the rehydration of your system.
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