What Exactly are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are essential minerals — like sodium, potassium, and magnesium — that are vital to many key functions in the body. They have a natural positive or negative charge when dissolved in water, and because 60% of an adult human body is made up of water, nearly every fluid and cell in the body contains electrolytes.
Electrolytes regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and help rebuild damaged tissue. The heart, muscle, and nerve cells also use electrolytes to carry electrical impulses to other cells.
You lose electrolytes through bodily fluids like sweat, urine, and if you’re ill, through vomiting and diarrhea. The loss of electrolytes can lead to an imbalance in the body and negatively impact overall well-being. Preserving electrolyte balance within the body is important to both physical and mental wellness.
Electrolytes Help the Body Produce Energy
Electrolytes themselves do not contain energy, however, they are necessary for your body to support the complex reactions that produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), or “usable energy.” The production of ATP, as well as supporting balanced hydration levels in the body, is critical for sustaining energy levels, and electrolytes are vital to both of these functions.
Significant electrolytes in the body include sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates. Sodium, magnesium, and potassium are three of the key electrolyte minerals that are needed to maintain normal electrolyte levels in the body.
- Sodium: The most abundant electrolyte in the body. Sodium plays a large role in keeping a balance of fluids in the body and is also crucial to the absorption of nutrients by cells.
- Magnesium: Magnesium aids the body’s cells in turning nutrients into energy. Your muscles and brain rely heavily on magnesium to do their jobs.
- Potassium: Potassium and sodium are used alongside one another by the cells in the body. When one sodium ion enters a cell, one potassium ion leaves, and vice versa. Proper heart function is directly linked to potassium levels in the body.
Electrolytes are essential for supporting the body’s overall energy levels, and factors like fluid loss and dehydration can threaten electrolyte balance. Staying hydrated throughout the day, and replacing lost electrolytes after working out, can help avoid an imbalance.
Symptoms of an Electrolyte Imbalance
Now that you know the role electrolytes play in supporting energy production in the body, it is easy to understand how an electrolyte imbalance can contribute to low energy levels. Athletes, people who sweat a lot while working out, and even those who work outside need to be aware of keeping electrolyte levels in check.
Depending on which electrolyte is out of balance, the symptoms of that imbalance will vary. A concentration of magnesium, sodium, potassium, or calcium can produce one or more of the following symptoms:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Weakness
- Muscle spasms/twitching
- Excessive tiredness
- Confusion
- Numbness
- Nervous system disorders
- Seizures
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, an electrolyte imbalance may be to blame. Keeping your electrolyte levels balanced will ensure that your energy levels are supported and at the levels they need for optimal well-being.
How to Keep Electrolyte Levels Balanced
Paying attention to your thirst can be a good indicator of your electrolyte balance. Drinking fluids prior to working out is important, and replacing fluids while working out is also necessary to maintain electrolyte balance.
What if I don’t work out? Staying hydrated is not only important for those who exercise, it’s important for everyone. Hydration is the key to your body working smoothly, and electrolytes provide that hydration.
While you can receive electrolytes naturally through the food you eat and the water you drink, it’s often easier to use an electrolyte supplement to ensure you’re getting the electrolytes you need in proper amounts. Finding a reliable source of electrolytes that are easy for your body to absorb should be the goal for optimal hydration.
10X Health Electrolytes
10X Health now offers the best option for optimal hydration — 10X Electrolyte Packets. Inside each of the 10X Electrolyte Packets is a powerhouse blend of sodium, potassium, and magnesium that delivers optimal hydration to keep your energy levels in top shape all day long.
Our proprietary blend of electrolytes is designed to assist in muscle recovery and promote an overall sense of well-being. The easy-to-travel packets allow you to rehydrate on the go no matter where you are. Our packets are also designed to be highly bioavailable, which means your body can efficiently and easily absorb the benefits of the electrolytes.
Want to learn more about how 10X Health Electrolytes can help you reach optimal wellness and hydration? Contact 10X Health today!
