If you want to perform better, whether in sports or at work, you need to hydrate properly. Drinking water alone isn’t enough.
This is especially true if you’re sweating heavily – like you might when the temperature is over 90 degrees, and you’re on your feet for hours.
Exerting yourself causes your muscles to break down water into its constituents: hydrogen and oxygen. This results in an electrolyte imbalance, which requires electrolyte drinks or sports drinks to replenish electrolytes.
The right electrolyte drink will let you stay hydrated and give you the right balance of these elements in a form your body can use.
Contents
What’s in an Electrolyte Drink, Then?
In their simplest form, electrolytes are trace elements that are essential for proper cell function. They’re naturally found in our bodies and occur in the foods we eat.
Electrolyte drinks, aka electrolyte beverages, are developed to replenish the electrolytes that we lose during physical activity or when we sweat a lot.
To replenish fluid and restore electrolyte balance, we need to consume the same amount of electrolytes we lost during exercise.
Therefore, after exercise, we should aim for a 2:1 ratio of water to electrolytes to restore fluid and electrolyte balance. Click here to learn more.
The Science Behind Electrolyte Drinks Is:
- Water-soluble vitamins and minerals help prevent dehydration by replacing those lost in sweat.
- Electrolyte minerals help the body regulate fluid and mineral balance throughout the day.
- Electrolyte minerals are essential to keep your body at the point of optimum performance.
For example, sodium regulates blood pressure; potassium helps maintain the proper acid-alkaline (blood) balance.
So if you’re doing regular exercise, sweating heavily in hot weather, or dehydrated for any reason, you need your own electrolyte drink that replaces these sodium and potassium electrolytes.
Who Are Electrolytes for?
Many electrolyte drinks are for anyone that is training or working hard. The most notable difference between rehydration drinks and those without is the addition of salt, which helps to replace lost electrolytes lost through sweat.
As a result, electrolytes are a great supplement for anyone doing prolonged exercise, training, working out hard, or playing competitive sports.
It’s easy to forget about the effect a hard session can have on your electrolyte levels, and replenishing them will also help reduce fatigue and muscle cramps.
The benefits of electrolytes are not limited to athletes. We all lose electrolytes through our day-to-day activities such as eating, drinking, and sleeping.
So if you’re feeling unwell(think of stomach flu, diarrhea or vomiting, etc )or need an extra boost, they’re a great way to boost energy levels and ensure your diet is balanced.
Electrolyte Drink Mix Types
Fruit Juices(Naturally Occurring Electrolytes)
- Citrus Sports drinks: Unlike traditional sports drinks, these are made with electrolytes and carbohydrates. They are most effective in rehydrating the body during and after an intense exercise.
- Nectars: They are low-calorie drinks that usually contain electrolytes and other artificial sweeteners. They contain artificial flavors.
- Drinking a glass of lemon juice is considered a natural way to maintain hydration. The same goes for orange juice and watermelon juice which are both rich in vitamin C and potassium.
Soy Milk
The electrolytes in soy milk are naturally occurring, just like the electrolytes in Gatorade. Soy milk is better than plain water or sugar-laden fruit juice because it provides protein, calcium, and magnesium.
Two cups of soy milk act as an electrolyte replacement for one Gatorade serving, but without the unnecessary calories or too much sugar content.
Nutrition and protein are especially important for staying hydrated and recovering from hard workouts and long races.
Flavored Waters
They can be either carbonated or not and contain electrolytes, natural flavors, and sometimes other nutrients(added sugar, electrolyte powder, etc). They are a refreshing way to replace lost fluid and minerals during an intense workout.
Coconut Water
Coconuts are an excellent source of electrolytes, especially for people with extreme dehydration. They naturally contain a significant amount of sodium, calcium, and magnesium.
These electrolytes are balanced with the natural carbohydrates in coconut water, providing a perfect post-workout drink without any additional sugar.
While this electrolyte water was initially marketed as an alternative to sports drinks, many consumers are now using it as an overall health beverage.
Dietary Supplements
Simply put, a nutritional supplement is a product taken orally and used as a source of supply of nutrients. They help support or maintain the structure or function of the body.
A nutritional supplement is not an energy source but is intended to provide nutrients missing in the diet.
For example, supplements that contain stevia leaf extract, green tea, and electrolytes can help people who do not consume enough ELECTROLYTES in their diet to stay healthy.
Supplements can also be helpful for people who have lost electrolytes due to stomach bug illness or exercise.
Caution: Most people think that dietary supplements are natural and safe because they are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, some of these products may not be as safe as you think.
Dietary supplements can contain artificial ingredients, added sugars, and other harmful substances. They can also interact with the medications you take.
For these reasons, it is important to consult your medical professional to review dietary supplements for your needs.
Tailwind Nutrition Fuel
Tailwind Nutrition Endurance Fuel is the only electrolyte drink specifically designed to fuel endurance athletes.
Engineered to be the perfect balance of electrolytes, simple and complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and antioxidants, the unflavored version of Tailwind Endurance Fuel is an all-natural drink mix that provides optimal hydration and rapid energy from essential nutrients.
Each 16-fl-oz. A serving contains less than 10 calories, is sugar-free, and has no artificial sweeteners or flavors. In addition, tailwind is vegan-friendly, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Available in four flavors: Berry, Tropical Mango, Lemon Lime, and Citrus.
The Product Works by the Following:
- Replenishing lost electrolytes and fluids in the body through heavy exercise or diarrhea
- Replenishing minerals lost through dehydration, sweat, or vomiting, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Nuun Tablets
Nuun Tablets are an excellent way to replenish your electrolytes, especially if you are active and sweat a lot.
Sweating is one of the body’s natural ways of cooling itself down, but it also causes us to lose important electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
These powder packs are a convenient, portable way to replenish lost electrolytes and keep your body functioning properly.
In addition to Nuun Tablets, another great way to replenish your electrolytes is through a healthy diet. Foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, and avocados are all great sources of potassium.
And because sodium is found in many different types of food, it’s easy to get enough sodium through your diet without supplementing it with tablets or powders.
However, if you find yourself sweating a lot or losing fluids through other means (like vomiting or diarrhea), then these electrolyte tablets can be a helpful addition in replenishing the electrolytes lost.
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