Electrolyte powder and drinks are increasingly becoming popular. Particularly among fitness enthusiasts. But, are they really worth it?
Whenever there is talk about electrolyte hydration powder, the crowd can e be divided into two groups. One group openly supports it by accepting them as performance boosters and healthy for the health. In comparison, the other group rejects its effectiveness.
Seeing how more and more readers are asking the same question, we thought of creating an answer for them in the form of an informational guide.
In this article, we will take you through the following.
- What is Electrolyte Powder?
- Benefits of Electrolyte Powder
- Electrolyte Powder: Pros & Cons.
- Is It OK To Drink Electrolytes Every Day?
What Is Electrolyte Powder?
Electrolyte powder is a dietary supplement that can be added to the water and consumed to increase a certain mineral level inside your body. Electrolyte hydration powder is mostly used by people who are reserved with too much physical activity.
While you indulge yourself in physical activity, your body uses electrolytes to ensure every body part and organ is working effectively. Unfortunately, the more you work out, the more your body loses electrolytes.
Once your body has used up all the electrolytes present in the body, your body starts malfunctioning. As a result, you might experience headaches, dizziness, muscle spasms, and cramps.
Benefits of Electrolyte Powder
Each electrolyte has a specific function and benefits in the body that we can’t live without.
- Calcium: makes your bone strong.
- Potassium: Ensure an effective digestive system and other organs’ functionality.
- Sodium: Manages the amount of water level in the body.
- Magnesium: Boost your immune and cardiovascular system.
- Chloride: Maintain pH and fluid level in the body.
Electrolyte Powder: Pros & Cons
While electrolytes powders are squared away as important elements to maintain good health, it is more than that.
Pros
1. Improves Exercise Performance
While exercising, you need additional water to replenish your body. While you exercise, your body loses a lot of water and electrolytes in the form of sweat. Even a loss of a few percent of body fluid can decrease strength and focus.
Thus, you must keep replenishing your body with water and electrolyte powder to ensure your body is performing effectively.
2. Prevent Heat Strokes
From mild heat rash to life-threatening heatstroke, hot weather can put your body under a lot of pressure. While your body is able to release the excess heat in the form of sweat, it also loses water and essential electrolyte in the process.
To ensure the lack of electrolytes doesn’t cause any health issues, you need to keep refueling your body with water and electrolyte powder.
3. Rehydrate Your Body During Recovery
When you exercise, you lose water and electrolyte in the form of sweat. If both the elements are not restored in the body, it can be dangerous for your health.
Electrolyte powder offers a convenient way to rehydrate your body during recovery.
4. Support The Functioning Of The Nervous System
Hydration is one of the major enemies of your body. Even a drop of hydration in your body can lead to decreased cognitive abilities and concentration and slows down your body’s response time.
Our body is made up of several nerve cells that need electrolytes to perform efficiently and effectively.
Cons
Electrolyte powder is good for you if you choose the right one. The main downside of commercialized electrolyte powders is that they come with a lot of added sugars – however, some electrolyte powders offer healthier sugar-free options.
Since eating too much sugar can lead to heart-related problems, it is best to consume in moderation.
Furthermore, our body can sustain only a certain level of electrolytes in the body if that threshold is passed, and our body experiences several health issues.
Is It OK To Drink Electrolytes Every Day?
While it is true that electrolyte is crucial for your body and well-being, too much of anything can be dangerous for your health. Unfortunately, it turns out that consuming too much of these electrolytes can result in some serious health issues.
The health issues include:
- Hypernatremia.
- Hyperkalemia.
- Hypermagnesemia.
- Hypercalcemia.
These are all medical conditions when your body has more electrolytes than it needs to have. It can create an imbalance in your body, affecting your physical body functioning.
