Why Do I Need Electrolytes? Five Top Reasons To Use Them

Electrolytes are essential minerals that the body needs to function properly, helping to maintain fluid balance and support muscle and nerve function. They are substances that have a positive or negative charge when dissolved in water, and the key elements include sodium, magnesium, potassium, and chloride.

Every bodily fluid and cell contains electrolytes, which we mainly get through eating a well balanced diet. The body works very hard to maintain an optimal balance, but sometimes electrolyte levels can be too low. This can lead to a range of symptoms including headaches, confusion, dizziness, muscle cramping, irregular heartbeat, and nausea. 

In this case, it may be necessary to use electrolyte tablets to replenish levels. Here’s a look at five situations where supplements might be beneficial. 

 

1. After an intensive workout

We lose electrolytes through sweat, so when you’ve exercised and got hot and sweaty, you need to replenish not just fluids but also vital minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium.  Sodium plays a key role in helping the body maintain the correct fluid balance, and it helps the cells absorb nutrients. 

Therefore, if you have lost a lot of fluids during a long run or intense gym session, it could take several hours to properly rehydrate without supplements. Drinking plain water will help to quench your thirst, but it can actually dilute the electrolytes in your body even further.

This is why electrolyte tablets are sometimes also called oral rehydration salts. They help the body to replenish key minerals and absorb nutrients much faster. This can prevent unwanted side effects of an electrolyte imbalance, including confusion, fatigue, irritability, muscle cramping, weakness, nausea and vomiting, and in more severe cases, seizures or fainting.

 

2. After a stomach bug or fever

If you’ve had an illness that has caused vomiting, diarrhoea or fever, it can leave your body severely dehydrated with low electrolytes. Not only will you have lost essential minerals through bodily fluids, but they will not have been replaced because your usual diet will have been disrupted by the illness. 

Therefore, health professionals recommend that a rehydration tablet is taken to help the body recover faster and to avoid further complications or side effects from the illness. They can also help you get over a hangover more quickly if you’ve had one too many the night before. 

 

3. To support proper muscle and nerve function 

Muscles need electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and magnesium to contract properly and boost circulation. If levels are too low, it can increase the risk of muscles cramping and injuries. This is why athletes use supplements during endurance events. They can be beneficial for anyone who does physical work or is very active. 

Sodium, potassium and magnesium also assist with the transfer of electrical impulses between nerve cells. Depleted levels can increase the risk of muscle weakness and cramps. 

 

4. To stay mentally sharp

Electrolytes support the brain as well as the body. Sodium in particular is important as it plays a key role in the electrical messaging between nerve cells in the brain. When levels are depleted, it can cause brain fog, poor concentration, and worse memory. This may be especially important for students, busy professionals, or anyone who needs to stay sharp. 

 

5. To maintain hydration during travel and holidays

Travel can disrupt our usual diet and hydration routines, especially during long flights in dry aeroplane cabins when you might want to avoid too many trips to the toilet. If your destination has a hot and sunny climate, it’s also likely that you will sweat more and need a higher fluid intake than usual.

Even if you are not travelling to foreign climes, we are experiencing more frequent heatwaves here in the UK, often with temperatures over 30°C. This can cause excessive sweating, especially if you are not in an air-conditioned environment or want to continue with outdoor activities. 

Therefore, electrolyte tablets are a very useful addition to your holiday hand luggage. They can easily fit into a handbag, and all you need to do is dissolve one tablet in water. 

O.R.S hydration tablets are available in three appealing natural flavours, including lemon, strawberry and blackcurrant, and have no artificial preservatives. They meet the World Health Organisation’s rigorous standards due to high quality and scientifically balanced  ingredients, and are low calorie, vegan friendly, and gluten and lactose free.