I spent many years craving salt…I have also spent my entire adult life as a long-distance runner.
Can you guess the connection between athletics and salt cravings?
Fast forward 20 years, I now understand the science behind my salt craving. My body was completely depleted of sodium, which needed to be refilled on a more regular basis than I was getting from my diet.
As clinicians, we discuss diet and lifestyle with people every day. Hydration is one of the easiest and most cost-effective changes everyone can make for improved health. Why? Because water is essential to life and without it the body malfunctions.
But proper hydration depends on not only getting enough water but also holding onto it. That’s where electrolytes come in. Electrolytes are minerals that communicate with one another to maintain balanced fluid levels both inside and outside of the cells. Any disruption to this fluid balance can cause dysfunction at a cellular level. The primary electrolytes are sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium. A good electrolyte product will contain all these trace minerals.
Athletics, stress, and illness are the most common causes of electrolyte imbalance and often warrant supplementation. During the summer we all sweat more, causing the body to lose water and sodium by pulling both from the blood and excreting them through the skin. The loss of sodium causes a fluid imbalance within the cells, ultimately leading to problems, including a disruption of the balance of trace minerals, or electrolytes.
The adrenal glands, well known for regulating the stress response, also manage electrolyte balance. Any physiological, physical, mental, or emotional stress can impact the adrenal gland’s ability to keep up with the demands placed on it, ultimately causing imbalanced electrolyte levels. Illnesses involving vomiting and/or diarrhea can quickly disrupt the delicate balance of fluid in the cells and calls for immediate replenishment of electrolytes.
Common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance include mental confusion, irritability, muscle soreness and cramping, heart issues, nervous system dysregulation, digestive imbalance, lightheadedness, fatigue, tingling, migraines, itching, and breathing problems.
An electrolyte mix is a great way to help the body recover from stress, illness, and fluid loss from athletics. Pay attention to your salt cravings. Here at BeWell we have searched for an electrolyte product that is well balanced but contains no sugar or additives. Dynamic Hydrate by NutriDyn offers a nice balance of critical vitamins and minerals needed to maximize hydration and comes in a variety of flavors. Ask us to send you a sample!
DANIELLE PREISSING, M.S., CNS
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