There are a lot of different neon-colored sports drinks and electrolyte drinks on the market that claim they can improve your overall physical performance and help you in recovering faster after workouts. If you’re using these drinks because you just got done working out or your getting over being sick, the question is, is it beneficial to you or not?
According to some dietitians there is a proper time and specific place for these rehydration powder.
Ø What are electrolytes and what exactly do they do for you?
Electrolytes are made up of minerals that are actually found in your blood, these minerals help to be able to regulate and also control the overall fluids that are in your body and make sure they are balanced properly.
Electrolytes play a significant role in the regulation of your muscle contraction, maintaining your blood pressure, and they help to keep the functioning of your entire system working properly. The three main electrolytes include the following:
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Magnesium
Ø Dehydration
You need the correct amount of these electrolytes inside of your body because it makes sure your health is optimal and your able to perform physically and mentally. If you happen to end up losing a substantial amount of those minerals, you will end up becoming dehydrated.
This can make you feel bad and could cause you to have cramping of your muscles or spasms as well. Everyone has felt the affects of being dehydrated at least once or twice in our lifetime and some of the symptoms that are associated with dehydration include the following:
- Dry lips and tongue
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Ø The number one sign of dehydration
The main symptom that you may be dehydrated is being overly thirsty. The primary type of electrolyte we lost during exercise or from sweating is sodium. Sodium has somewhat of a bad rep however, we actually need this type of electrolyte to be able to retain fluids.
If you’re sweating from exercise or because you have a fever from being sick that means you are losing fluid, which means you will become dehydrated overtime. You should always buy some of the best electrolyte powder that you can find and use it when it seems necessary.
Ø Electrolyte powder drinks: What you should look for
Hydrating drinks come in a bunch of different varieties to choose from – some can include tablet forms that you put in a bottle of water, to powders that dissolve in water as well. There are also liquids that come in regular style water bottle. Not all electrolyte style drinks are all created equal.
It’s recommended that you read the label on the package of electrolyte drinks no matter what form you’re choosing to use. If you’re just going to work out for an hour or even less than that then just regular water will do the trick. However, if you plan on exercising for more than 75 minutes or even more then it’s a good idea to add some electrolytes to your workout regimen.
