Electrolytes

Do you need to be thinking about Electrolytes when you consider yours sports nutrition?
Many sports drinks boast about supporting your body’s supply of electrolytes but what does this actually mean?

What are Electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have an electrical charge and they play a vital role in muscle contraction, fluid balance and your body’s PH levels. The most common are sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium.

If you are eating a balanced diet you should be getting plenty of these minerals for your needs but some electrolytes are lost through sweat, especially sodium, which is why sports drinks often include them. There is no evidence that the inclusion of electrolytes in sports drinks have any impact on performance although they may make you more thirsty to encourage you to take on more fluid in general.

Best Tip for Electrolytes?

So, my best tip – stick to fresh water, eat a balanced diet and don’t be fooled by clever marketing into paying over the odds for a drink you don’t need.