Electrolyte Replenishers: What are They and When You Should Use Them

First of all, what are electrolytes? Electrolytes are different compounds that our bodies all need to function correctly. Electrolytes are required for many of the body’s essential functions such as muscle contraction and the way the brain communicates with the rest of the body. They can be become imbalanced when you become dehydrated and this is what an electrolyte replenisher is for. But when should you use an electrolyte replenisher to help to rehydrate and to stop heat stroke? Is it really necessary to add electrolytes to your water? The answer is that it depends. What type of activity will you be doing? What is the temperature outside? Do you tend to sweat a lot? Are you sick? These are all things to consider when you are preparing for any sort of activity. You lose electrolytes when you sweat from physical activity or when you are sick so these are the most common times that you will need an electrolyte replenisher. Activity Type: Certain activities tend to be a higher risk for dehydration. running, cross country skiing, and cycling tend to burn lots of calories and to cause lots of sweating, which is how dehydration begins. The duration of the activity tends to also have an impact upon the amount of hydration needed. A marathon is much more likely to require an electrolyte supplement than a 5k. Temperature: Temperature plays a big roll in our body’s ability to cool itself, so generally the higher the temperature, the greater the risk for massive electrolyte loss. When exercising in the summer heat, or at midday, you need to supplement your water with electrolytes to help to avoid sickness and injury. However, while heat is the most common time for electrolyte imbalance, it can also happen in cold weather as well, so you always need to be on the lookout for dehydration, even if it doesn’t feel warm out. Sweating: Some people tend to sweat more than others, and this is really just the body being efficient at cooling. If you are one of those people who sweats a lot, you need to be extra careful of heat stroke, dehydration and electrolyte loss when you are exercising. If you are susceptible to getting dehydrated, it is not a bad idea to keep electrolyte tablets on hand for emergency situations. When you are sick: Sometimes when you become sick, you will need to replenish your electrolytes. If you have been throwing up or ahem… losing water in any other way…. it may help you to recover quicker if you add electrolyte tablets to your water. Electrolytes are different electrically charged minerals that our bodies all need to function correctly. They are required for many of the body’s essential functions such as muscle contraction and the way the brain communicates with the rest of the body. The answer is that it depends. What type of activity will you be doing? What is the temperature outside? Do you tend to sweat a lot? Are you sick? These are all things to consider when you are preparing for any sort of activity. You lose electrolytes when you sweat from physical activity or when you are sick so these are the most common times that you will need an electrolyte replenisher. Foods that contain electrolytes include almonds, avocados, bananas, beans, broccoli, buttermilk, canned foods (soups and vegetables), chicken, fish (such as flounder), kale, milk, olives, oranges, peanuts, potatoes, raisins, soybeans, spinach, strawberries, tofu, tomatoes, turkey, veal, watermelon, & yogurt. Certain activities tend to be a higher risk for dehydration. running, cross country skiing, and cycling tend to burn lots of calories and to cause lots of sweating, which is how dehydration begins. Temperature plays a big roll in our body’s ability to cool itself, so generally the higher the temperature, the greater the risk for massive electrolyte loss. If you are one of those people who sweats a lot, you need to be extra careful of heat stroke, dehydration and electrolyte loss when you are exercising. Sometimes when you become sick, you will need to replenish your electrolytes.