What the heck are electrolytes?

And why do I need them in my water?!

Electrolytes seem to be everywhere these days. You’ve seen and heard the advertisements endlessly, I’m sure.

But do you need them?

You’ve probably heard me say this before, but as with all supplements, it depends!

Let’s start with the basics:

What are they? Quite simply, they are minerals that have an electrical charge when dissolved in fluids.

What do they do? They help keep your intracellular water and extracellular water balanced. (That is, they regulate the water inside and outside your cells.) They also allow you to contract your muscles, as they send nerve signals through the body.

What are some electrolytes? Potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride are examples. You can get all of these naturally through the foods you eat, if you’re eating a balanced and well-rounded diet.

Let’s assume you are eating a broad array of fruits, veggies, leafy greens, nuts/seeds, and Greek yogurt/milk. If you are (and you are, right?), you probably don’t need to supplement.

Unless…

If you’re partaking in activities that are very sweat inducing (an hour plus of intense cardio, hot yoga, or sauna), you are ill and losing fluids, or you are outside in hot and humid weather, you should consider supplementing. 

If you’ve ever been dehydrated or needed to take care of someone who was, you don’t want to go through that. Supplementing is inexpensive and easy (and tasty!) insurance.

The problem is that too many of the hydration drinks on the market have sugar (sometimes a lot of sugar) added. The other problem is that the supplement needs to have the right mixture of electrolytes.

 There are a few brands that offer sugar-free versions, so shop around, read the labels, and give them a try.

For us at Revity3, we carry and use Transparent Labs Hydrate, which we find to be effective, tasty, reasonably priced, and not overwhelmingly salty.

Coach Dylan