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    Home > Food News > Nutrition News > Do you need to replenish electrolytes?

    Do you need to replenish electrolytes?

    • Last Update: 2021-07-30
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    Soon it will be the summer season, and the weather will gradually become "sauna"
    .
    If you take two steps outdoors, your sweaty hands can't stop! Many people will kindly tell you, "Drink light salt water after sweating a lot" to replenish electrolytes
    .
    So why do we need to add electrolytes?


     
    What is electrolyte?
     
    Electrolytes in the human body are the general term for various solutes in the form of ions in body fluids
    .
    There are three types of inorganic ions, proteins and organic acids
    .
    Most of the inorganic ions are eventually excreted in the urine, and those that can form insoluble salts are excreted in the stool
    .
    Electrolytes do not provide energy, but they play an important role in maintaining the body's physiological activities
    .
     
    Why do we need to add electrolytes?
     
    Under normal circumstances, electrolyte components such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium in the body will be maintained at a relatively constant concentration level, and electrolyte metabolism will be significantly enhanced during exercise
    .
    People sweat a lot during exercise or high temperature, which leads to a large loss of water and electrolytes with sweat.
    The main components of electrolytes include sodium and potassium, as well as a small amount of magnesium and calcium plasma
    .
    Sweat for a long time, and the amount of sodium chloride lost with sweat in a day can reach 20-30 grams or more, followed by potassium, calcium, and magnesium
    .
     
      Any change in the concentration of electrolyte components will affect the physiological functions of cells to varying degrees
    .
    For example, when sodium deficiency is mild, apathetic expression and bodily fatigue may occur.
    For moderate deficiency, vomiting, blood pressure and painful muscle cramps may occur.
    In severe cases, symptoms such as coma, peripheral circulatory failure, and shock may occur.
    Muscle cramps, stress fractures, etc.
    during exercise; reduction of total potassium in the human body can cause functional and pathological changes in neuromuscular, digestive, cardiovascular, urinary, and central nervous systems, such as muscle weakness and paralysis , Arrhythmia, rhabdomyolysis and renal dysfunction
    .
     
      Since these electrolytes cannot be synthesized in the human body, in order to ensure the balance of the body, we need to obtain it from the diet.
    For example, many fitness people like to have a banana after exercise, because bananas are rich in potassium
    .
    Potassium and magnesium lost by sweat can not only be obtained from normal diet, but also can be quickly replenished by drinking electrolyte-containing beverages after exercise
    .
     
    How to replenish electrolytes?
     
      The weather is hot in summer.
    After high temperature weather, strenuous exercise or a lot of sweating caused by sauna, you need to replenish electrolytes in time to ensure that the electrolytes and water in the body can be restored to a state of physiological balance as soon as possible
    .
    How to effectively replenish electrolytes? You can reasonably choose sports drinks (electrolyte water) that contain electrolytes
    .
    Before exercise, during exercise, and after exercise, according to the principle of drinking small amounts for multiple times, it can solve the problem of electrolyte and water loss at the same time
    .
    If you are worried about gaining weight, you can also choose low-sugar and low-fat electrolyte drinks
    .


    Nutrition label of a certain electrolyte water (promotional image)
     
      It should be noted that the main sources of minerals and vitamins are still foods in the daily diet, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and meat
    .
    Although high temperature, heavy physical workers and heavy exercises need extra electrolyte supplements, low-physical workers generally have enough electrolytes in their daily diet and do not need additional supplements.
    If you want to adjust the taste occasionally, drink some electrolyte drinks (electrolyte water) in moderation.
    There is no problem, but drinking cold boiled water and mineral water is still the best choice
    .
     
    (The content of this issue is guided by experts from the National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment Li Huzhong and Liu Yujie
    .
    )
     
     
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