Electrolytes are everywhere, from popular sports drinks to mix-in powders. You’ve probably heard before that you need electrolytes to stay hydrated, especially after sweating. But nowadays there are more electrolyte products than ever, and it can be hard to decipher which is the best option and how necessary they really are vs what’s just marketing.
First, let’s start with the basics. Electrolytes are minerals that help the body function. They control many things, from muscle contractions and nerve function to pH balance. Electrolytes dissolve in water, so they exist in all of our bodily fluids. Without getting too much into the chemistry of it all, they’re called electrolytes because they have a charge when dissolved, and these charges help carry signals throughout our bodies.
Since they are so important to all the functions our bodies conduct, it’s important that they be kept at a certain concentration. When we sweat, we lose electrolytes in our sweat, and if we only drink water, we mess with the concentration of electrolytes in our system. When we sweat, we lose mainly sodium, chloride, magnesium and potassium. While we do ingest sodium and other electrolytes through our diets, most people (if they avoid fast food) actually don’t get enough to replenish their hydration after a heavy workout.
Especially after working for a long time or in the heat, it’s essential to replenish those electrolytes lost through sweat. If you’re running low on electrolytes, you might experience dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
So what is the best way to make sure your electrolytes stay balanced? You have already heard of traditional sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade, and no doubt you’ve tried them once or twice. These drinks can be very high in sugar, which we sometimes need as fuel during a particularly intense workout, but most of us probably don’t need any more sugar in our day-to-day diets.
Unfortunately, some other sugar-free, “all-natural” brands of electrolytes are little more than flavoured water. The concentration of electrolytes are very low or imbalanced, with lots of sodium (which is easy to get) but not enough potassium. They also often include added synthetic vitamins, caffeine etc that you can dose yourself as appropriate, you don’t need a massive stack that’s not personalized to you and your goals.
Finally, our kids are always grabbing our food and drinks out of our hands, and we want to be able to share with them and support them, too, especially as they grow into sports and working out. We need what we have to be family-friendly and kid-safe.
That’s what we created Natrilyte! Our very own electrolyte formula produced right here in Ontario. It contains enough sodium, chloride, potassium, and magnesium to keep your hydration levels up without overloading on sugar, and it tastes great!
We have three flavours out right now: Lemon-Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, and Pineapple! This is an electrolyte that we are excited to drink, not just forcing down after a workout because we have to. It’s a product we know that you will love as much as we do.
Let us know if you have any questions about Electrolytes and come by the gym to pick up your tub or order it online at natrilyte.com