Ever since I started running, all I know is that I need to drink a sh*t ton of electrolytes. But I would like to understand why on a physiological level.
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Needing electrolytes is only really for elite level athletes. Most western diets are too salty to begin with.
Needing electrolytes is only really for elite level athletes. Most western diets are too salty to begin with.
Muscle action is *fundamentally* dependent on the transfer of Sodium and Potassium [in ionic state] into and out of muscle cells in a balanced way.
Under heavy exercise conditions, water/salt[Sodium] release as sweat can quickly upset this balance.
Therefore, hydration without salt can easily amplify the imbalance.
Muscle action is *fundamentally* dependent on the transfer of Sodium and Potassium [in ionic state] into and out of muscle cells in a balanced way.
Under heavy exercise conditions, water/salt[Sodium] release as sweat can quickly upset this balance.
Therefore, hydration without salt can easily amplify the imbalance.
Does the type of salt matter? I see electrolytes drinks advertise that they have electrolytes, but I’ve noticed the amount of sodium in food is a lot more than that are in these drinks. Is it just a scam?
Does the type of salt matter? I see electrolytes drinks advertise that they have electrolytes, but I’ve noticed the amount of sodium in food is a lot more than that are in these drinks. Is it just a scam?
Also look up diffusion and gradients for an understanding of the physics¿ driving the situation. It is a force that drives many processes in organic tissues.
Also look up diffusion and gradients for an understanding of the physics¿ driving the situation. It is a force that drives many processes in organic tissues.
There are a lot of great answers here, but a lot of them aren’t really ELI5.
Most of the things your body does require different types of salt for them to work. Your kidneys can tell how much salt is in your blood, and will make the blood more or less salty by changing the amount you pee.
Your sweat contains both water and salt. If you sweat a lot, you’re going to get thirsty because you don’t have enough water in your system. When you take in water without any salt in it, it makes it so that you have too much water and not enough salt in your blood. This makes your kidneys freak out a bit, and you pee out the extra water. This peeing stops you from re-hydrating.
Normally, our diet has enough salt in it to stop this from happening. However, when you excersize a lot and sweat a lot, you need to replace a lot of water. If you replace a lot of water without eating any salts, you don’t re-hydrate.
There are a lot of great answers here, but a lot of them aren’t really ELI5.
Most of the things your body does require different types of salt for them to work. Your kidneys can tell how much salt is in your blood, and will make the blood more or less salty by changing the amount you pee.
Your sweat contains both water and salt. If you sweat a lot, you’re going to get thirsty because you don’t have enough water in your system. When you take in water without any salt in it, it makes it so that you have too much water and not enough salt in your blood. This makes your kidneys freak out a bit, and you pee out the extra water. This peeing stops you from re-hydrating.
Normally, our diet has enough salt in it to stop this from happening. However, when you excersize a lot and sweat a lot, you need to replace a lot of water. If you replace a lot of water without eating any salts, you don’t re-hydrate.
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