– If electrolytes are salt, and salt makes you dehydrated, how do electrolytes help you retain water?
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Your body tries to maintain a balance at all times, otherwise you will die.
Sweat is salty, if you sweat a lot you will lose salt and water. Now your thirsty from your work out so you drink some water. You have replaced the water but not the salt, so you have too much water. To maintain balance your body will get rid of the excess water through urination.
If you drink a sports drink you replace both the water and the salt so you don’t need to pee and thus retained water.
It’s good to note that this is situational and electrolytes don’t always help you retain water. If you drink a sports drink without working out you get too much salt and your body will also try and get rid of it, having the opposite effect. This is harder for your body but we’re getting beyond eli5 range.
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