Drinking water is of course essential for our well-being, and in most cases, water is perfect beverage for staying hydrated. However, in certain scenarios, drinking water alone may actually cause more damage. If you have low blood pressure, going through bouts of sickness, lead a hectic life, and/or train hard (hello runners!) then no, water is not enough. In this blog we will focus on athletes and why electrolytes are essential for your well-being and your performance.
During a long or intense workout, it is only natural for you to sweat, and as we established in previous blogs, sweating induces dehydration. Now, as the hotter months are approaching, you will sweat even more than usual. Sweating is not merely just water – salt and other electrolytes form part of our sweat. With this reasoning alone, one can deduce that water is not always enough.
In fact, drinking just water, after such workouts or runs is downright dangerous. If you do not replace the electrolytes lost through sweat you may feel certain symptoms –
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Confusion
These are all symptoms of dehydration, which if not tackled, can lead to more serious consequences.
Now, if as a runner, you deal with other health-related issues, such as stress, low blood pressure, and also tend to be a mouth breather, if you drink a lot of coffee or are on certain medications (such as anti-histamines), then your hydration status is at even bigger impact. If you fall under any of these categories having your electrolytes with you at the ready is highly, highly recommended.
Lastly, as always, listen and pay attention to your body. The body knows when it needs more than just water – the signs are usually very clear (look above and read our pre house blog post).
A healthy, and hydrated run to you all!
Blog written by Revival Rehydration and Recovery Salts team.
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