Are electrolytes important for hydration?
Hydration is by its very name is the replacement of water lost from the blood plasma volume and/or the cells. That is accomplished with water. Electrolyte replacement is not hydration; by its very name it is replacement of electrolytes. Both are important, and timing of the intake of both is also very important. During a short race electrolyte replacement and carbohydrate replacement would only slow you down. During a long, four-hour or high-endurance exercise you may require some electrolyte replacement. So the answer is both water and electrolytes are necessary, but for best results in performance, plain water with trace minerals is best after a short to middle length race. But electrolyte and carbohydrate replacement are important midway through an Iron man competition. The more “stuff” you put in water, the slower it’s absorbed into the cells, and the slower it’s emptied from your stomach. A Gatorade study supports this. That’s why the sports drink manufacturers made a sports drink
