Several brands of bottled water and most sports drinks advertise that their product contains electrolytes. While sports drinks have changed how athletes rehydrate during long events, many individuals who do not exercise for hours at a time do so to lose weight. Drinking a 200-calorie sports drinks after a workout seems to negate this goal. Electrolyte-enhanced water can provide the electrolyte benefit of sports drinks without the calories and sugar.
Replenishes Minerals
Electrolytes are minerals the body needs to function. Because electrolytes are ions, they possess an electrical charge. Sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, chlorine and potassium are the electrolytes found in the human body. Electrolyte-enhanced water is water with electrolyte ions added to it. It may be found at most grocery or convenience stores. If you are exercising strenuously for longer than two to three hours, drinking electrolyte-enhanced sports drinks or electrolyte enhanced water may be a good option to quickly and easily replenish lost electrolytes quickly. Consuming a balanced, healthy diet should effectively replenish lost electrolytes. However, in the instances when electrolytes are vastly depleted, drinking electrolyte enhanced beverages provides a quick and easy source of the minerals, according to MedlinePlus.
Maintains Body pH
The human body runs optimally at a bloodstream pH of 7.4. The electrolytes chloride and sodium helps maintain the pH levels of your blood. While the liver and kidneys work to maintain this pH balance as well, a poor diet may cause the body's pH to become slightly acidic. Consuming alkaline-forming foods such as fruits and vegetables helps as well as maintaining healthy levels of electrolytes. (Reference 3)
Prevents Dehydration
Drinking electrolyte water before, during and after performing a physical activity will help prevent dehydration. Dehydration may also occur due to hot weather or a sickness that induces vomiting or diarrhea. The act of drinking water alone helps, but replenishing lost electrolytes also provides additional benefits to keep dehydration from occurring, according to the text "Fluids & Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy."
Nerve Function Maintenance
The normal functioning of cells and the nervous system require a healthy balance of electrolytes. Specifically, magnesium modifies nerve impulse transmissions and the skeletal muscle response. Unbalanced amounts of magnesium dramatically affect neuromuscular processes.
References
- MedlinePlus: Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
- MedlinePlus: Electrolytes
- "Fluids & Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy"; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007
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