We all know how drinking water can help us to stay healthy, from regulating body temperature, keeping blood pressure in control to improving mood, memory and productivity, keeping our body hydrated is said to be the basic step towards maintaining a good diet.
The benefits of water are highly remarkable, but have you ever thought to intensify the goodness of water by adding electrolytes to it? Here, let us discuss how electrolyte water can benefit our health.
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are minerals that have an electrical charge when mixed in water. Normally, the human body preserves electrolytes from the food and the fluid a person consumes. The minerals that carry the electrical charge include potassium, calcium and magnesium.
The electrical charge gets distributed throughout the body and uses their energy to facilitate important bodily functions, like balancing the amount of water and pH level in the body, moving nutrients to human cells and taking waste out of it, as well as it also helps in regulating the nerves, muscles, heart and brain functionality.
If we check sports drinks and waters, we can see electrolytes among its ingredients. This is because when we exercise and sweat, we lose a huge amount of electrolytes from our body which need to be replenished. But it does not mean only sports people need to take care of the electrolyte level in the body, everyone needs to do it, as it even aids to walk, breathe, laugh and think.
Electrolyte water
Electrolyte water, as the name suggests is water infused with electrically charged minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Electrolyte water is also called as mineral or alkaline water. Electrolyte drinking water improves hydration and other bodily functions. Here are more benefits of having electrolyte water:
Better exercise performance
While exercising, our body needs extra fluids to replace the water lost through sweat. Even just 1-2 percent loss of water from the body can lower strength, speed and focus. And sweat also contains electrolytes like sodium, a small amount of potassium, calcium and magnesium.
In order to replace the electrolytes lost in sweat, one must take electrolyte-infused water along with regular water while exercising.
Prevents heat stroke
From mild heat rash to severe heatstroke, hot weather can even put a person’s health at risk. Our body manages by releasing the heat through the skin and by sweating, but these natural techniques will not be effective in a too hot climate, causing the body temperature to rise dangerously.
The best way to prevent heat-related illnesses is to restrict the time spent in the heat and getting plenty of fluids and electrolytes. Remember, drinks containing caffeine can worsen the condition by causing dehydration thus must not be consumed during hot weather.
Rehydrate during an illness
Health conditions like diarrhea and vomiting are quite common but if they continue for long can lead to dehydration in case the fluids and electrolytes are not replaced. In such a condition, doctors recommend drinking electrolyte-infused water to prevent dehydration.
Supports nervous system
Even a small decline in the hydration level of the body can lower cognitive abilities, concentration, alertness and slower reaction at times. Experts say with 3 percent dehydration in the body, a person’s reaction time becomes equivalent to someone with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent.
Our nervous system is a collection of nerves and specialized cells that transmit the signals from our brain to the other parts of the body. Each element in the electrolyte has specific roles in enhancing each function of the nerve cells, like :
- Sodium – Launches the electrical impulses the nerve cells required for proper communication.
- Potassium – Neutralizes the nerve cell so that it can reinitiate subsequent electrical impulses.
- Magnesium – It permits for the effective transmission of electrical impulses.
How to make electrolyte water at home
To make one glass of electrolyte water, you need 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1.5 cups of unsweetened coconut water, 2 cups of cold water. Mix all the ingredients in a big glass and can have it chilled. You can also mix a teaspoon of honey to improve the taste.
Related: Swap your sugary drinks with plain water & see the healthy you!
