Get The Facts on Sports Drinks and Hydration

This summer, Canada experienced a record-breaking heat wave, putting everyone at risk of dehydration. This state occurs when your body does not have access to enough fluids so that it can function properly. While people can be dehydrated due to medication or diarrhea, extreme heat is also a culprit in making people excrete more sweat than they normally would. Since our bodies are primarily made up of water, dehydration can lead to the following alarming effects. The Effects of Dehydration Your body needs water to carry out basic functions, so an extreme dip in your hydration levels will make you very weak. Even worse, your body may send out an SOS and exhibit any of these symptoms: 1. Extreme thirst Feeling dryness and discomfort around your mouth area? This is your body’s way of signaling that it needs more water! You definitely need to give in to that sensation before the symptoms can get worse. 2. Dizziness or headaches NBC states that your body will try to keep up with the extra heat by trying to cool itself down. Unfortunately, this process may cause dizziness and headaches, especially if you cannot balance things out with the weather. You may even look pale and feel clammy as your body struggles with its dehydrated state. 3. Dry and flaky skin The skin contains 64% water so if you take out one of its major components, so Herald Mail Media points out that dry skin is one of the casualties of dehydration. Furthermore, you may experience skin problems and disorders, such as dryness and eczema, when your dehydrated body cannot eliminate toxins properly. 4. Irregular urine Your urine can also show signs of dehydration! You will definitely have difficulties in excreting toxins from your body if you are dehydrated. However, dark yellow urine is also a signal that you have low hydration levels. 5. Fever When push comes to shove, your body will increase its temperature and produce a fever. It’s hard to maintain a regular body temperature if you are struggling with extreme weather and low hydration levels. Unfortunately, as your fever rises up, your body will become even more dehydrated. How to Counter Dehydration Keep you and your loved ones safe from the alarming effects of dehydration by taking care of your body properly. As a preventive measure, it is important to drink at least seven to eight glasses of water each day. Furthermore, you can avoid lowering your hydration levels by staying indoors when the weather is extremely hot. If you’re taking medication that makes you feel dehydrated, then consider discussing other options with your doctor. Dehydration can unexpectedly occur to everyone though, so it’s important to learn how you can reverse the effects. Nourish your body from the outside by properly moisturizing your skin. You can also lightly apply ice covered with cloth all over your body, so that you can cool yourself down and help in regulating your temperature. Most importantly, you need to replenish what you have lost inside your body. If you’re extremely dehydrated, then you need to consume a lot of water before you can go back to normal. By restoring your Electrolyte levels, you can balance the fluids in your body so that it can function properly once again. To improve your electrolyte levels, you can drink coconut water, eat bananas, or take in electrolyte supplements. Dehydration can cause detrimental effects on your body. Protect yourself from heatwaves and other causes of dehydration by regularly maintaining your body's water levels. Shop Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™

Check the list to ensure you're well hydrated every day. Facts are facts, your body needs electrolytes to be properly hydrated. It’s the balance of fluid inside and outside your cells that defines if you are hydrated enough. This fluid balance is thanks to trace minerals that conduct electrical charges... minerals called electrolytes. What do you need to know about electrolytes? Electrolytes are important for overall health and well-being, and you need them daily. Drinking fluids that contain electrolytes can help replenish lost fluids and prevent dehydration, helping improve many functions in your body including things like: Nerve signalling Muscle contraction Digestion and metabolism Skin health Eliminating wastes And more Some electrolytes, such as potassium and magnesium, play a role in promoting healthy skin. For example, potassium may help regulate blood flow and oxygenation to the skin, while magnesium may help support collagen synthesis and prevent skin aging. How do you know if you are lacking electrolytes? There are several signs that you may not have enough electrolytes in your body, but here are some telltale signs you should look out for: Muscle cramps: since electrolytes help regulate muscle function, an imbalance can cause muscle cramps or spasms. Fatigue: electrolytes are involved in energy production and can help combat fatigue, therefore a lack of them can lead to decreased energy levels. Headaches: electrolyte imbalances can cause headaches or migraines, especially if dehydration is a factor. Nausea and vomiting: sometime an imbalance of electrolytes can lead to digestive issues, including nausea and vomiting; sometimes a side effect of headaches as well. Dizziness: Electrolytes help regulate blood pressure, and an imbalance can lead to lightheadedness. Weakness: Electrolytes are important for muscle strength, and when low in these key minerals, you can feel some weakness or decreased physical performance (ask any athlete). Urine colour is clear: if your urine is completely clear, like water... it means that you probably don't have the balance of minerals your body is striving for. Your urine should be slightly yellow, like champagne or lemonade. Irregular heartbeat: Electrolyte imbalances can affect heart function and cause irregular heartbeats or palpitations... in this case it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Replenishing your electrolytes by adding them into your water is an easy way to improve your hydration daily. TIP: Add electrolytes to your water and drink it down before you start your day, see the difference it makes! SHOP OUR ELECTROLYTES

Find out more about the minerals that your body needs on a daily basis. You need electrolytes daily. But what are they? Electrolytes are minerals (like sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium) that conduct an electrical charge when mixed with water. These electrolytes are essential to the body, and because they conduct an electrical charge are also referred to as salts. Yes, your body needs salt for several reasons. Role of electrolytes in your body The basic function of electrolytes is to regulate the flow of fluid and salts inside and outside of your cells. This is key to ensure you are well hydrated. Water alone doesn’t contain nutrients, so you may be deficient in helping your body send key signals and impulses if you're not providing your body with key essential minerals. Electrolytes: help regulate a variety of your body’s most essential functions, including sending signals throughout your body’s nervous system help maintain a balanced pH and temperature so that your cells and organs are functioning optimally support the digestive system through opening and closing of channels that need an ionic balance help your muscles contract and avoid cramping during activity control the constant impulses in your body to keep your heart beating, lungs breathing and brain functioning optimally supports your immunity and return to health after being ill You cannot have hydration without electrolytes Hydration = Water + Electrolytes When you sweat, urinate, or experience diarrhea, you lose electrolytes along with fluid, which can lead to dehydration and other health problems. Therefore, you're losing electrolytes daily and should replace them daily. While water is essential for staying hydrated, it does not contain significant amounts of electrolytes. Therefore, if you engage in intense physical activity or live in a hot and humid climate, simply drinking water may not be enough to replenish the electrolytes you lose through sweat. Without a balance of electrolytes and water, you can find yourself dehydrated. How to choose the right electrolytes... Electrolyte-rich beverages, such as sports drinks or coconut water, can provide the necessary minerals to help restore your electrolyte balance and prevent dehydration. However, it's important to be mindful of the added sugars and calories in some sports drinks and to choose lower-sugar options. Or you can make your own electrolyte drink using natural ingredients like fruit juice, honey, and salt. Organika's Electrolytes powder provide the essential minerals you need to replenish your body daily, without caffeine and without any sugar. What's even better is that this formula is gentle for everyday use. Want more from your electrolytes? Electrolytes Defence - Essential electrolytes coupled with immune boosting ingredients: zinc, elderberry and echinacea Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen - Essential electrolytes coupled with Canada’s #1 Collagen Powder† for stronger joints, healthier hair, skin, and nails In summary, while water is essential for hydration, electrolytes are important for maintaining fluid balance and supporting various bodily functions.