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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Think of electrolytes as electricity. Your body needs electricity to send nerve impulses to your muscles.
It’s why if you have a really fresh cut of meat and rub salt on it, it will start twitching. The salt is triggering the muscle tissue to work.
Think of electrolytes as electricity. Your body needs electricity to send nerve impulses to your muscles.
It’s why if you have a really fresh cut of meat and rub salt on it, it will start twitching. The salt is triggering the muscle tissue to work.
You’re one big (and complex) circuit. Electrolytes conduct electricity when mixed with water and that’s essential for our cells, organs and systems to work well. We lose electrolytes through sweat, urine (as well as vomiting and diarrhoea). It’s why you’ve been advised to increase your intake of electrolytes to avoid feeling prematurely fatigued or ill.
You’re one big (and complex) circuit. Electrolytes conduct electricity when mixed with water and that’s essential for our cells, organs and systems to work well. We lose electrolytes through sweat, urine (as well as vomiting and diarrhoea). It’s why you’ve been advised to increase your intake of electrolytes to avoid feeling prematurely fatigued or ill.
Your body can’t actually move water, it just goes wherever it goes and if you stop it from going it will cause damage doing it anyway.
So instead of moving water around directly, your body moves electrolytes, these are big charged atoms, and very easy for your body to grab and move about. The thing about electrolytes is that water loves being around them.
So when your body wants to absorb water, it grabs the electrolytes in your food/drink and pulls them into your intestines, the water then follows. When you need to get rid of excess water, your kidneys move electrolytes into your urine and the water follows. Since electrolytes are also used to get water out in sweat, you can run out of them, then your body can’t control where it moves water and the water just does its own thing which can cause problems.
So when you exercise a lot you need electrolytes.
We didn’t use to need them because natural water (streams, wells) have electrolytes in them, but our artificially distributed tap water is deficient since electrolytes can cause problems in pipes, so we need to add them in occasionally
Your body can’t actually move water, it just goes wherever it goes and if you stop it from going it will cause damage doing it anyway.
So instead of moving water around directly, your body moves electrolytes, these are big charged atoms, and very easy for your body to grab and move about. The thing about electrolytes is that water loves being around them.
So when your body wants to absorb water, it grabs the electrolytes in your food/drink and pulls them into your intestines, the water then follows. When you need to get rid of excess water, your kidneys move electrolytes into your urine and the water follows. Since electrolytes are also used to get water out in sweat, you can run out of them, then your body can’t control where it moves water and the water just does its own thing which can cause problems.
So when you exercise a lot you need electrolytes.
We didn’t use to need them because natural water (streams, wells) have electrolytes in them, but our artificially distributed tap water is deficient since electrolytes can cause problems in pipes, so we need to add them in occasionally
U need electrolytes to maintain a water potential in ur cells. But udn a fk ton. That’s just a myth made up by sports drink companies to sell in excess. In fact too much electrolytes can cause stones in ur kidney
U need electrolytes to maintain a water potential in ur cells. But udn a fk ton. That’s just a myth made up by sports drink companies to sell in excess. In fact too much electrolytes can cause stones in ur kidney
The issue is twofold:
Firstly, if you sweat out salty water but only replenish it with plain water, you’ll have a deficiency of electrolytes, the most abundant of which is sodium (table salt). The only way your body can correct a lack of sodium is by expelling more water. So without enough salt, you cannot retain enough water to stay hydrated. Conversely, too much salt leads to retention of water, causing high blood pressure.
Secondly, electrolytes like sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium are neurotransmitters. We use them for a whole bunch of things, from firing electrical signals from our brain down to our muscles through our nerves, to contracting muscles, to relaxing muscles. A deficiency can lead to muscle cramping, or more seriously an inability to control muscles and issues with the nervous system (and most seriously, cardiac arrhythmias because your heart is a muscle).
The issue is twofold:
Firstly, if you sweat out salty water but only replenish it with plain water, you’ll have a deficiency of electrolytes, the most abundant of which is sodium (table salt). The only way your body can correct a lack of sodium is by expelling more water. So without enough salt, you cannot retain enough water to stay hydrated. Conversely, too much salt leads to retention of water, causing high blood pressure.
Secondly, electrolytes like sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium are neurotransmitters. We use them for a whole bunch of things, from firing electrical signals from our brain down to our muscles through our nerves, to contracting muscles, to relaxing muscles. A deficiency can lead to muscle cramping, or more seriously an inability to control muscles and issues with the nervous system (and most seriously, cardiac arrhythmias because your heart is a muscle).
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