Summer is heating up: Be sure to replenish your electrolytes!

Summer is heating up: Be sure to replenish your electrolytes!

Electrolytes are salts that, once inside our bodies, dissolve into positive and negative charges, which function to regulate water flow into/out of cells and to spark nerve impulses. Without electrolytes, our body cells would shrivel with too little water, or burst with too much water. The nerve impulses stimulated by electrolytes are responsible for all normal bodily functions including maintaining our heartbeat, maintaining our breathing, and maintaining normal brain function.

Now that we know why electrolytes are important, we can discuss when and how to replenish them. As you sweat, water and electrolytes are released onto your skin. Losing too many can cause blood pressure changes, nausea, dizziness, confusion and problems with breathing. While most people get adequate electrolytes through their normal diet, those who are exercising or working in the heat for an hour or more should supplement water with an electrolyte replenishing fluid. In addition to supplemental fluids, be sure to add plenty of fruits and vegetables to your summer diet, as those also provide excellent sources of electrolytes.

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