Transcript Below
You've heard about electrolytes for sports, but if you're not a high-performing athlete, are they really that necessary? It's a great question, right?
In this video I'm going to be explaining the benefits of electrolytes and why everyone needs electrolytes, coming right up!
Hi, I'm Ashley at The Healthy Place, Wisconsin's Number One vitamin and nutrition store. We are passionate about helping people learn, grow, and create the best life possible. If you're new here, consider subscribing!
Alright, what is the importance of electrolytes? At games, races, in the gym we are constantly being reminded to drink water or sports beverages and stay hydrated! But many of us don't really know the reason why we do. To understand why and how electrotlyes are necessary, let's start at the very beginning.
Why do we need electrolytes and what are they anyway? Your body is a complex superhighway of electrical currents that determine how your body functions. Electrolytes are minerals in the body that contain an electric charge, and they are everywhere! They're in your blood, your brain, your heart, your muscles, your nerves and even your intestines. So how do electrolytes work and what do they do in your body?
Electrolytes are incredibly important because they help balance your body's pH levels, move nutrients to your cells, and move waste out of your cells. They also keep your nerves, muscles, heart, and brain working and signalling to each other the way that they're supposed to.
There are six key electrolytes needed for everyday function in our bodies. These include:
- Calcium
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphate
Our cells need these minerals to function properly, but one of the clearest reasons why everyone needs electrolytes is that we all lose electrolytes all the time, and this is totally normal. The most common ways we lose electrolytes are by exercise or through sweat, but we also lose electrolytes when we get sick, have a poor diet or experience too much stress.
And there are some additional possible causes of low electrolytes too, like digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, encrocrine disorders, some medications, kidney disease or damage and chemotherapy treatments.
Now, if we lose electrolytes. and we don't consistently replenish them, that is where we get into trouble. When your electrolytes are out of balance, you might experience a number of common symptoms ranging from muscle aches to spasms, excessive thirst, headaches, dizziness, and a lot worse.
Thankfully, a diagnosis of an electrolyte imbalance is easy to obtain with the help of your physician. And, in most cases, this imbalance can be quickly remedied by drinking electrolyte drinks and shaping up your diet.
So I hope by now you're understanding a little bit more about why we all need electrolytes. If you're finding value in this video, be sure to give it a Like and subscribe for more health-related videos. And please, if you have any questions or even have some thoughts to share, be sure to leave a comment below.
Now, let's talk about how to increase your electrolyte levels. One of the easiest ways to replenish your body's electrolytes is with an electrolyte drink, but not all electrolytes are good options. Some drinks are made primarily of sugar, food dyes and preservatives, and they come in bottles that contain BPAs. That is the last thing that you want to be drinking!
So we hunted for electrolyte supplements that are packed with minerals and no harmful chemicals, toxins, or excess sugars. Our favorites include:
- Nuun Electrolyte Tablets
- Hammer Nutrition Endurolytes
- Trace Minerals Research ConcenTrace Drops
- Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydration
You can refer to the show notes below to learn more about these electrolytes and find one that fits your needs. We've even seen parents use Nuun Rest to help their kids overcome constipation and keep otherwise hard-to-hydrate kids... well, hydrated.
You can also get electrolytes from herbal teas, juices (fresh squeezed with no sugar added is the best), fresh fruits and vegetables, organic, hormone-free meats, and mineral water. The Berkley Water Filtration System is a great choice because it doesn't remove minerals from the water. If you're local to the Madison area, you should come check them out at one of our stores.
Keeping the body full of nutrients needed for optimal health and exercise is our top goal here at The Healthy Place. If you're still wondering why we need electrolytes or you have any questions about them, or you just want some health guidance, be sure to check us out online. We have a LiveChat feature on our website, or you can call, email or stop by in personal
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Remember, we believe that health is worth fighting for, and we want to help you Find Your Healthy Place!