Sports drinks are beverages, whose soul purpose is to assist athletes replace water, electrolytes and energy after training or competing, though their efficacy for that purpose has been questioned, particularly after exercise. Electrolyte is a medical term for salts, specifically ions. Electrolytes are crucial because they are what your cells use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses across themselves and to other cells. When you do an excessive amount of exercise, your body loses electrolytes through your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your boy fluids constant.
Electrolytes serve three general functions in the body:
Many are essential minerals
They control osmosis of water between body compartments
They help maintain the acid-base balance required for normal cellular activities
The body sweats in order to maintain proper body heat, and in the process, electrolytes are lost. Many people do not know that the body’s production of sweat is controlled to ensure that only small amounts of electrolytes are lost in perspiration. The kidneys also conserve fluid and electrolytes by cutting back on urine production during dehydration. Experts say it is only after one hour of strenuous exercise such as running that electrolytes need to be replenished.
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of water before, during and after any workout or activity. Water is essential for proper bodily function. According to a recent study, after 2% of a person’s body weight is lost through perspiration, the person experiences impaired performance. After 4%, the capacity for muscular work declines, after 5% heat exhaustion, 7% hallucination, and after 10% you experience circulatory collapse and heat stroke. Sports drinks aren’t the only way to consume electrolytes. Eating a normal diet will provide the body with