What Are 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.

How both essential functions go hand in hand Staying well hydrated is a key factor in maintaining a healthy immune system. Your immune system depends on specific nutrients being transported in your blood stream, an important part of the body that is made up of 90% water. Hydration also helps with sending signals and biochemical reactions to and from your immune system. Reminder: Hydration = water + electrolytes (specific salts involved in the reactions we just talked about). Electrolytes and immunity Ever notice when you are sick, people may recommend electrolytes in your water? That’s because a deficiency in these nutrients compromises your immune health (amongst other things). It will help if you think about your immune system as a fighter jet, eliminating any invaders or intruders (the invaders being threats such as viruses, germs, and unwanted pathogens). Your immune system can fight off enemies from invading your body by using T-cells and antibodies as defence (its weapons if you will). To run properly, you need to maintain your fighter jet and fuel it to ensure it doesn’t run out of gas at a critical moment. Just the same, your immune system requires specific nutrients to run properly. These nutrients include electrolytes; specifically, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. Note: electrolytes have many purposes in the body, but for the purpose of this article, we are focusing on immunity. Sodium It’s been studied that sodium has been linked to having an anti-microbial effect and can fight infections. While you don’t want to consume a diet high in sodium which can have auto-immune and blood pressure effects, there is a required amount your body needs daily. In fact, there needs to be a balance of sodium and water in your body. Adding sodium into your water thorough a replenishing electrolyte beverage daily should be enough to meet your sodium needs. Potassium Potassium balances out the sodium and together they regulate immunity response. Specifically, potassium works in the membrane of the cells to turn it on and transmit signals between cells (think of it as communication) and direct activity of the immune system. Magnesium Magnesium does so much for your body in general, but for the immune system it’s essential to keep it strong. Your body needs magnesium to make its T-cells which fight viruses and kill them. Studies have shown that decreased magnesium levels are linked with the decline of these important “killer” T-cells and other cells crucial in the immune system. If you really want to boost immunity... You want to stay efficiently hydrated always and get water plus your key electrolytes daily. Doing so will ensure your immune system is ready to go when you need it. In addition to immunity, you may know there are other supplements that are catered to support cold and flu symptoms or prevent them all together. Get maximum hydration AND immunity support in ONE SHOT Electrolytes Defence™ with Elderberry & Echinacea contains essential nutrients that keep you optimally hydrated and provide powerful immunity support – all with 0 g of sugar! Accelerate your hydration, fight off infections and help with cold and flu symptom relief with this all-in-one immunity blend containing electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium), elderberry, echinacea and zinc. Elderberry is high in antioxidants and has antiviral benefits. Researchers reported after a 2011 study, that elderberry prevented the growth of certain types of strep bacteria and influenza viruses. Echinacea is loaded with plant compounds functioning as antioxidants. Numerous studies have found that echinacea may help your immune system combat infections and viruses. Zinc supports the growth and normal function of immune cells, helping to defend against infection. This article has been fact-checked

Benefits, tips and tricks to keep you hydrated to the max! We know hydration is key to good health. It doesn’t always mean it’s easy to meet the daily requirements. If you struggle with meeting your recommended 2L of water intake daily, you're not alone. In fact, past reports suggest that most Canadians are not drinking enough and are dehydrated as a result. Yikes! Before we solve this problem together, let’s review why it’s important to meet your H₂O needs. Basic benefits to hydration They don’t call it the “drink of life” for no reason. Water quite literally aids crucial functions in the body to maintain health. Specifically, water is needed to: move nutrients through the body to where they need to be help remove waste and toxins OUT of the body keep blood pressure normal by helping blood flow smoothly protect and provide cushioning for joints and organs maintain a normal body temperature. When you don’t drink enough water (and about 45% of Canadians do not), that’s when dehydration symptoms kick in. Dehydration can show up in so many ways, but common symptoms are dry mouth and lips, lacklustre or dry skin, headaches, dizziness, dark yellow or strong-smelling urine, low blood pressure or an increased heart rate. The important thing to avoid is being dehydrated often. Long-term dehydration can have serious negative health effects. PRO TIP: once you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated... but you can reverse it easily. 5 tips to avoid dehydration A common mistake is trying to get in all of your daily water intake at once, in fact it’s not recommended to do that. It’s much better to aim to drink fluids often and throughout the day. 5 tried and tested tips 1. Avoid soft drinks and limit caffeineCaffeine and soft drinks have the opposite effect and cause dehydration. Drinks with caffeine should be limited to 3 cups per day. 2. Carry a water bottle with youWhether you're travelling, going to and from work, or just heading out for some leisure, carry a water bottle. You are more likely to meet your goals when water is by your side throughout the day. 3. Enjoy other fluids that help with hydrationOther fluids such as milk (dairy or non-dairy), fortified soy beverages, 100% vegetable or fruit juices, herbal teas and broths can all count towards your goal. Just ensure to choose water, when possible, but it’s ok to mix it up! 4. Flavour your waterWater doesn’t have to be boring. Add lemon, lime, oranges, cucumbers, mint or berries to create some flavour! Our community loves our Effervess (which adds vitamin C and collagen to your water... even on-the-go). 5. Drink more water when in hot weather or during activityAs you sweat, you lose both electrolytes and water. During these times, it’s a good idea to increase your water intake to prevent heat stroke or dizzy spells. Achieve your hydration goals with ease Making it even easier, Organika has lots of water enhancers to meet your goals, making water fun while providing additional benefits. One of the best ways to hydrate is to throw some electrolytes into the mix.Taking a scoop of Electrolyte - Wild Raspberry or Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™* boosts your water with thirst-quenching flavours, but also provides added vitamins and minerals to replenish nutrients lost with sweat or during sickness. PRO TIP: if you love soda, Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™ is a PERFECT replacement to curb those cravings. Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™ *Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen™ won Best New Product Award in 2022! Make the most of your water – you can add an Effervess tablet and watch it fizz, instantly turning your water into a sparkling beverage. Effervess replenishes your water with hydrolyzed marine collagen and vitamin C to give you some added skin benefits. SHOP Effervess You can also amplify your water without the collagen with Instant C, D, Zinc Immunity Effervescent. Get important immune boosting nutrients and flavour your water to meet your hydration goals. SHOP Instant C, D, Zinc Immunity Effervescent With so many winning options, you can stay hydrated to the max!