What are Electrolytes?
If you’ve ever seen an ad for a sports drink or played sports, you’ve likely heard of electrolytes. But what are they exactly? Why does Gatorade have electricity in it, and why do you need it after you exercise? Is it really that important, or is it just a marketing strategy? In reality, “electrolytes” is an umbrella term for several nutrients that are important to the healthy function of our bodies. They’re naturally found in most of the fluids in our bodies — our blood, sweat, and urine for a few examples — and are actually created by some of the more common minerals we ingest!
What do Electrolytes do?
As we said, electrolytes aren’t a single thing, but rather a catch-all phrase for several common minerals that dissolve in liquid in our bodies. These minerals carry a slight electrical charge, positive or negative, that are used in the metabolic process. Two of the most common electrolytes are sodium and potassium, though others include calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus, to name a few.
Working Muscles
One of the major ways that electrolytes help our bodies is through promoting healthy muscle function. Specifically, electrolytes are known to help our muscles during exercise by aiding the movement of fluid to the muscles, keeping them hydrated. Studies also found that electrolytes are essential to normal skeletal muscle contraction. There’s also evidence of a link between a loss of electrolytes and muscle cramps, though scientists still aren’t sure what causes cramps.
Maintain Fluid and pH Balance
Balance is important to our health, and electrolytes play an important role in maintaining a few balances. One electrolyte in particular, sodium, is important for maintaining your fluid balance. Sodium triggers osmosis in your cells, which helps them from having too much or too little water. Electrolytes are also linked to your internal acid-base balance, which has wide-ranging effects on your body.
Nervous System
Electrolytes can also help your nervous system with sending out electrical signals throughout the body. They do this by stimulating electrical charges, called nerve impulses, which carry these signals to your organs and muscles. Where electrolytes truly are most famous for neurological benefits comes from individual electrolytes. Magnesium is well known to have connections to mental function and neurological disorders when you aren’t getting enough. Other electrolytes — like potassium, sodium, and calcium — also influence the nervous system.
What is an Electrolyte Imbalance and What Causes It?
Your electrolyte levels can vary depending on several factors like dehydration or sweating due to exercise. Some illnesses can cause dehydration through vomiting or diarrhea or feverish sweating, too. If your electrolytes are out of balance, it can cause some severe symptoms, like:
- heart arrythmia
- weakness
- confusion
- irregular blood pressure
- extremely fatigue and tiredness
- muscle spasms
The keto diet can actually trigger an electrolyte imbalance that practitioners of the diet call the “keto flu.” In the most severe cases, these imbalances can even become fatal. So, is this something you should be concerned about if you work out occasionally? Not really. Most people get enough electrolytes from their regular diet and are unlikely to exercise hard enough to lose too many electrolytes. Now, if you exercise at a high intensity for an hour or more or you have especially salty sweat (enough to leave a salt stain on your clothes), you’ll want to consider getting some electrolytes back into your body.
Good Sources of Electrolytes
Since there are many different minerals that are electrolytes, you have many ways you can keep your electrolyte counts healthy. Any healthier sodium-rich food, calcium-high dairy, or fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium like bananas or spinach will be great sources of electrolytes. Of course, if you need more electrolytes now, you can always go with a sports drink like Gatorade. Sports drinks are packed with electrolytes, making them an excellent source of quick minerals. If you can, though, go with a sugar-free option, since many sports drinks are loaded with sugar and sweeteners. Don’t forget, you can also overload on electrolytes, especially sodium, so don’t go overboard.
● ● ●
Electrolytes is one of the health terms that most people are vaguely aware of, but may not really know what they are. That said, they are very important to many basic functions of our bodies. Now that you know what they are, you’ll be able to keep your electrolyte levels balanced and your body functioning properly.
Featured Blogs
- Learning to Ski
- The Stories Behind Classic Christmas Carols
- 4 More Tips to Make Christmas Tree Hunt Less Stressful
- Why Do We Celebrate That? Other Festive Holidays
- A Senior Guide to Boston
- A Senior Guide to Edinburgh
- How Does Medicare Cover Osteoporosis?
- What are Ulcers?
- Medicare's Coverage of Parkinson's Disease
- What is a Cognitive Screening?
- Spooky Spots for Halloween 2023
- 4 Ways to Keep Trick-or-Treating Safe
- 10 Classic Horror Books for Halloween
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2024
- 10 Safety Rules for Seniors Who Enjoy Hunting
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- A Senior Guide to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- A Senior Guide to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- All About Enrolling in Social Security
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Madrid
- Does Medicare Cover Open-Heart Surgery?
- Exercise Tips for Summer
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lisbon
- Hosting a Safe Summer Barbecue
- Senior Summer Barbecue Tips
- Does Medicare Cover Biopsies?
- 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have High Blood Pressure
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Finger Lakes
- Does Medicare Cover Endoscopies?
- Ways Seniors Can Recover from a Workout
- Is Chocolate Healthy for You?
- Understanding Adult ADHD
- How Does Medicare Cover Hypertension?
- The Symptoms and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
- How to Determine What Temperature to Use When Cooking
- Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Keeping Fit on Vacation
- Is Your Tonsillectomy Covered by Medicare?
- Tips for the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Kitchen First Aid Tips
- What Does FDA-Approved Mean?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Guide to New York City
- How to Caramelize Onions
- Why Do We Celebrate That? April Fools’ Day
- Medicare and Powers of Attorney
- The Essential Role of Eggs in Cooking
- What are Different Types of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine? - Tips for Remembering to Take Your Medicine
- What is Medicare Part E?
- Building Your Basic At-Home Senior Gym
- How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to New Orleans
- How to Navigate & Read Academic Articles
- Phytonutrients: What Plant Color Says About Nutrition
- How to Prevent or Reduce Inflammation
- Osteoporosis: Risk Factors, Signs, and Treatment
- How to Make Homemade Pretzels
- Researching Your Ancestry and Family Tree
- How Medicare and Social Security Work Together
- What is Nordic Walking?
- Food Questions You've Been Embarrassed to Ask
- How Medicare Changed for 2023 and Beyond
- Tips for Using a Microwave
- How to Clean Your Ears Safely
- Skiing as a Healthy Hobby for Seniors
- 3 More Great Places to Celebrate New Year's Eve
- Why Do We Celebrate That? More New Year's Eve Traditions
- Panettone, the Italian Christmas Dessert
- A Simple Homemade Gingerbread Recipe
- How to Make Christmas Decorating Jollier
- The Science of Winter Weight Gain
- Seasonal Picks: 3 Foods You Should Try This Winter
- 5 Tips to Make Getting Your Christmas Tree Stress-Free
- Show-Stopping Potato Side Dishes for Thanksgiving
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Boeuf Bourguignon
- Holiday Travel Tips to Reduce Stress
- Does Medicare Cover Pain Management?
- Is Hunting a Healthy Senior Hobby?
- Ways You Can Get More Politically Involved
- What are Medicare's Lifetime Reserve Days?
- Spooky Spots for Seniors Halloween 2022
- How to Make Soul Cakes for Halloween
- Jack O' Lantern Carving Tips for Halloween
- Easy Ways to Peel a Potato
- 2023 Social Security COLA Largest in Decades
- Exercise Tips for Autumn
- How to Make Candy Apples at Home
- Why are Medicare Insurance Sales Calls Recorded?
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2023
- CMS Updates Medicare Enrollment Rules for 2023
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to London
- Does Medicare Cover Insomnia Treatment?
- Healthy and Easy Homemade Dog Treats
- The FDA Finalizes Ruling to Increase Access to Hearing Aids
- What the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Means for Medicare
- Tips to Make Flying and Airports Less Stressful
- CMS Projects Lower 2023 Part D Average Costs
- The 15 Golden Rules of Airplane Etiquette
- How Often Should You Shower?
- What are Medicare Pilot Programs?
- How to Care for Your Cast Iron Cookware
- Confronting a Loved One About Hurtful Behavior
- What Does Creditable Coverage Mean for Medicare?
- Using Za'atar in Your Cooking
- Dealing with Canceled Flights
- Protecting Your Vacation from Flight Disruptions
- Do Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Medicare Coverage?
- Which is Better: A Bath or Shower?
- Are Weight Loss Medications Healthy?
- Healthy Strategies for Anger Management
- The Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- The Difference Between Common Cooking Papers and Foils
- What are Medicare I-SNPs?
- Identifying Toxic Relationships in Your Life
- Healthy Ways to Spice Up Your Water
- All About Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans
- Medicareful Travels: A Senior Guide to All-Inclusive Resorts
- Does Medicare Cover Occupational Therapy?
- Lower 2023 Medicare Part B Premium Could Be on the Way
- Which is Better: Natural or Artificial Sweeteners?
- Tips for Vacationing with Pets
- Is It Better to Work Out Harder or Longer?
- Tips for Traveling with Your Pet
- Are Medicare Part B Giveback Plans Worth It?
- Introducing the Medicareful Living Family Cookbook!
- Medicare Coverage for Treatment of PTSD
- The Causes and Treatments of Nasal Congestion
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Spring Rolls
- Medicare Freezes Late Enrollment Penalties for Qualifying Enrollees
- What is a 5-Star Medicare Plan?
- What is PTSD?
- What is Inflammation?
- What is Medicare's Secondary Payer Program?
- What You Should Know When Buying Cast Iron Cookware
- What Does MACRA Mean for You?
- What to Do If You Receive a Terminal Diagnosis
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Homemade Lobster Ravioli
- Reading and Understanding Your Blood Pressure
- How to Be a Snowbird in Retirement (18 Questions to Ask!)