Do you know what fatigue, muscle cramps, and heart arrhythmia’s all have in common? Electrolyte imbalances.
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are these charged ions that help balance fluid pressure inside our cells and control the pH of our blood. Normal nerve, heart and muscle function rely on adequate amounts of these minerals, and deficiencies can hamper performance dramatically.
Muscle Cramps and Spasms
Magnesium and potassium play a big role in muscle function and deficiencies in either of these can set you up for muscle cramps and spasms.
I drink a gallon of water a day, do I get all my electrolytes?
Simply put, it depends. Today, a lot of our water needs to be purified, distilled, and treated which can diminish or completely eliminate the mineral content and can lead to an electrolyte imbalance. To top it off, much of the water has become fluoridated, which binds to magnesium and sets you up for fatigue, muscle cramps, and spasms. While many types of mineral water are still an excellent source of electrolytes, carbonation may not be your best friend during exercise.
Best Electrolyte Drinks/Powders:
- DayLyte or LyteShow
- Primitive Scientific Whole Food Electrolyte Powder
- Optimal Electrolyte by Seeking Health
- Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator
- Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water
Worst Electrolyte Drinks:
- Gatorade
- Powerade
- Powerade Zero
- Pedialyte
- Drip Drop
- Liquid IV
- Ultima Replenisher
- Propel
- Vitaminwater
- ZipFizz Healthy Energy Drink Mix
For more detailed information on what makes these drinks great or terrible, or for more information on the role of electrolytes visit: https://thehealthbeat.com/best-and-worst-electrolyte-drinks/