Electrolytes 101

You’ve heard about Electrolytes, but do you know what they are and why you need them? We have answered some of your biggest questions when it comes to electrolytes!

What are Electrolytes?

Electrolytes are essential minerals that can be found as a solid, liquid, or gas that contain electrically conducting ions that your body needs to function properly.

Here’s a list of the essential minerals that are considered electrolytes:

• Calcium

• Chloride

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Sodium

Why you Need Electrolytes

Any time that you sweat, your body loses electrolytes and you need to replenish your body with electrolytes. You can normally replenish your electrolyte levels through the foods you eat, but sometimes you will need more. The more you exert yourself (and sweat), the more you need to replenish your body with electrolytes.

If you exercise for more than one hour at a time, it would be a good idea to drink more than just water and quench your thirst with an electrolyte drink or eat a food that is rich in electrolytes. Of course, you want to make sure that you are getting the best sources of electrolytes and find out which ones to avoid.

Healthy Sources of Electrolytes

• If you want to find healthy sources of calcium, look no further than blackstrap molasses, dark green leafy vegetables, yogurt, raw milk, sardines (canned with bones), tofu, bok choy, bean sprouts, and spinach.

• You will find healthy sources of chloride (aka Sodium Chloride) from seaweed, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, celery, and rye.

• Find plenty of magnesium in spinach, halibut, almonds, quinoa, raw pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds.

• There is plenty of potassium in dried apricots, lima beans, avocado, winter squash, swiss chard, potato, lentils, yogurt, and bananas.

• You can find healthy sources of sodium in raw milk, eggs, and rice. Sodium is probably one of the easiest electrolytes to find, even something to try to limit in one’s diet! When it comes to having a healthy amount of sodium, just remember that the less processed foods you eat, the better.

Electrolyte Sources to Avoid

The first thing people think of when they hear “electrolyte” is a sports drink, since they have been marketed as an “electrolyte drink” for years, and marketed to athletes and anyone who breaks a sweat. Yes, these popular sports drinks contain electrolytes, but they are also loaded with processed sugars or artificial sweeteners, which are extremely bad for your health. There are just too many healthy sources of electrolytes to justify drinking a sports drink when you consider the negative side effects of sugar!

There are plenty of healthy sources for you to get all of the electrolytes your body needs!

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