Signs You Need More Electrolytes

You may have heard of electrolytes in sports drinks, and even be aware of some of the natural options available out there. But what do electrolytes actually do and what should you look for in an electrolyte drink or electrolyte supplements? What do electrolytes do? Electrolytes are a group of minerals – including magnesium, sodium, and potassium – that help conduct electricity around the body. They are essential for basically every activity in your body: muscle contraction (like your heart), regulating pH balance, keeping you hydrated and controlling your nervous system function. Why are electrolytes important? Electrolytes are essential to our survival, yet we can easily lose electrolytes through urine and sweat. Overconsumption of diuretic drinks such as coffee, alcohol and caffeinated teas can also reduce our electrolyte levels in the body. This becomes especially problematic when we are sick, as we also lose electrolytes when we vomit or experience diarrhea. Symptoms of low electrolytes levels It can be more common to see extreme symptoms of low electrolyte levels in those who are athletes or practice a ketogenic diet (hint: the keto flu can be better managed with electrolyte supplementation). However, there are common symptoms that many of us experience, that may indicate dehydration or low electrolyte levels, including: Fatigue Headache Dizziness Nausea (with or without vomiting) Trembling Dry mouth and skin Muscle weakness Stiff and aching joints More severe symptoms of electrolyte deficiency include: Change in mental status, such as confusion, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations Poor skin elasticity Rapid heart rate Sunken eyes If you experience these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately. When to take electrolytes In general, electrolytes can be helpful to keep up with your daily hydration goals, especially on those busy days where remembering to drink water can be a challenge. You can skip that third cup of coffee and reach for some electrolytes – you may even find it more energizing! Some other times you may want to consider taking electrolytes include: When you have been in the heat for an extended period (think summertime adventures!) If you drank a little too much alcohol one night If you are engaging in high-intensity exercise If you are following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, or regularly practice fasting If you are experiencing the flu or a severe bout of diarrhea If you have been feeling more muscle fatigue than usual with no changes to your daily water consumption How to replenish electrolytes First, start with food. Lots of vegetables and fruits can supply you with magnesium and potassium, as well as sea salt to support sodium production. But for many people, this isn’t enough. Supplementing with an electrolyte mix, like Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™, can provide you with these essential minerals. What is the best electrolyte drink? For years, we reached for electrolyte drinks packed with sugar – anyone else remember the days of choosing your favourite colour sugary sports drink for the soccer tournament? However, a few tips to ensure you pick the best electrolyte for your health goals include: Make sure it's sugar-free While glucose is important for many professional athletes, many average fitness folks can get away with consuming their carbs from whole-food sources pre- and post-workout. Look for a higher sodium content Many people shy away from sodium as we’ve been told it can lead to cardiovascular issues. However, studies show that low sodium intake can have the same effect. Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™ powder contains 440 mg of sodium per serving, which is known to support sore muscles. As previously mentioned, this is especially important for those following a low-carb or ketogenic diet, whether they exercise regularly or not. Check the magnesium content Magnesium is always beneficial to have in an electrolyte mix to help with post-workout recovery. Magnesium citrate can be ideal, especially if you deal with muscle cramping. Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™ powder contains 60 mg of magnesium per serving. No added colours or preservatives Look for natural colouring, especially ones that add to the nutritional value of the product, like red beet powder! Today, electrolyte drinks are savvier than ever, not only supporting your mineral needs, but taking a whole-body approach. Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™ combines nutrients like vitamin C, which is excellent to support tissue repair, plus 5 g of hydrolyzed grass-fed collagen per serving for additional joint support. In addition, you get all the benefits, without the less ideal ingredients like sugar, preservatives and artificial colours.

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.

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™