What do electrolytes and sodium have to do with hydration? Is water alone not enough?

Question

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.

In: 576

Answer 1

To add on to everyone else’s answers. There are two types of dehydration that lead to thirst.
One is when the fluid inside the cells becomes low and the second is when the fluid around the cells becomes low.
The first one can be satisfied with water alone, the second requires the electrolytes.