What are electrolytes and why are they important?
Electrolytes is the scientific term for salts, or specifically, ions. In the body, major electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate and sulfate. Electrolytes are vital because various cells in the body (especially nerve, muscle, heart) use them to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses such as muscle contraction. When you exercise heavily, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant. Drinking water, especially during strenuous exercise or training, is not always the best way to replace lost fluids because it dilutes the existing electrolytes (salts) inside the body’s cells and interferes with their chemical functions. Pure water intake during exercise also causes bloating and stimulates urine output which makes it less effective when exercising.
