The Power of Electrolytes: Enhanced Hydration and Wellness

This week we answer some of the most common questions about electrolytes and their essential role in the body.

1. What are Electrolytes and What Do They Help the Body to Do?

Electrolytes are minerals found in your blood and other bodily fluids that carry an electric charge. They are crucial for a myriad of physiological functions. These charged particles help regulate nerve and muscle function, maintain acid-base balance, and keep you hydrated by controlling the movement of fluids in and out of cells.

Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate. Each one plays a specific role in your body. For example, sodium helps control fluids in the body, affecting blood pressure, while potassium helps your nerves and muscles communicate. 

2. What are some of the signs you have electrolyte imbalances?

Here are some of the key impacts and symptoms associated with electrolyte imbalances:

1. Muscle Weakness and Cramping

2. Fatigue and Lethargy

3. Digestive Issues

4. Dehydration

3. Does Supplementation of Electrolytes Help Your Body Become More Hydrated? And How Does This Work in the Body?

Yes, electrolyte supplementation can significantly enhance hydration, especially under certain conditions like intense exercise, hot weather, or recovery from illness. Electrolytes help pull water into your cells, which is crucial for cellular function and overall hydration. This process works through osmosis—the movement of water from areas of low electrolyte concentration to areas of high electrolyte concentration to balance the mineral levels on both sides of the cell membrane.

When you're dehydrated, your body lacks not only water but also electrolytes. Drinking water rehydrates your system, but without replacing the lost electrolytes, you may still suffer from an imbalance, which can lead to symptoms like cramping, fatigue, and nausea.

3. What are the Most Common Electrolytes People Lack?

Sodium: Sodium is the primary electrolyte lost through sweat and is essential for maintaining fluid balance in the body. It helps to retain water and is critical for proper muscle function and nerve impulse transmission. Replenishing sodium is particularly important to prevent hyponatremia (low blood sodium), which can occur during prolonged endurance activities or events where excessive water is consumed without adequate electrolyte replacement.

Potassium: This electrolyte works in concert with sodium to help regulate fluid balance and is vital for normal cell function. Potassium is necessary for proper muscle contractions and nerve functions, and maintaining a balance between sodium and potassium is key to proper hydration and preventing muscle cramps.

We included the above 2 electrolytes in our D3B formula to enable users to easily get their electrolyte intake and avoid potential fatigue due to dehydration. 

Another common electrolyte of which people may be lacking is magnesium, which its influence extends from muscle function to sleep regulation. Recent research outlines magnesium regulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is known for its calming effects. By stimulating GABA receptors, magnesium promotes relaxation and can thus facilitate the onset of sleep.

Given its muscle-relaxing and sleep-promoting effects, magnesium is often recommended to be taken in the evening or before bedtime. Due to these affects on the human body, this is why we did not include magnesium in our D3B formula and we are looking to included in our evening formulation - stay tuned!

Stay hydrated, stay healthy, and continue to be the ultra-best version of yourself.