Hydration. Do you know the truth?
Swipe to learn the truth about hydration for the body- you will be shocked.
What is salt?
Salt is composed of 2 minerals, Sodium (Na) & Chloride (Cl), which are usually found together in nature! (NaCl). These two minerals are considered electrolytes. Why? They process the ability to conduct electricity & charge your nervous system, how incredible.
Bonus: What is the Nervous System?
A complex system that is made up of 2 parts; the central nervous systems and the peripheral nervous system.
These 2 parts guide what you think and say, how you move, your autonomic response to the world around you- and that's skimming the surface.
Why do I need electrolytes?
What's important about electrolytes?
They are active helpers within the fluids of the body (blood, urine, tissues) that help
keep the balance of:
- How much water your body has
- Your body'a acidic/base ph levels
- carry nutrients into the cells
- carry waste/toxins out of the cells
- regulate the proper function of the nerves, muscles, brain, & heart!
The offical electrolyte line up:sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium.
Ok, so why salt?
Now that we understand that electrolytes keep our fluids/body balanced, it's important to remember that our bodies are made up of 60% water. Without enough electrolytes or salt along with water intake, we can become dehydrated. Too much water with electrolytes or salt, we become over-hydrated.
The bottom line: Just because we get enough water, doesn't mean we're hydrated. Especially if one is an active individual who is sweating or in a low carb 'diet'. Someone with minimal movements requires LESS salt/electrolytes due to them not losing bodily fluids as excessively.
Let's begin to look..
We often overlook the benefits of electrolytes, salt in particular, due to the US government casting it as the villan to cause obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease.
Guilty by association? most likely.
Below is linked a fascinating article on salt for you to see where my inspiration came from, as well as dive into the research that has proven little to none when it comes to salt and the corrolation to increased risk of the issues above.
In that article you'll read how to this day, the gov suggests sodium intake to be 2.3 grams/day; In a JAMA study, the patients that followed this guideline had an increase of stroke & heart attack, and the patients who consumed 2x more sodium per/day were the ones with the best outcomes! WILD.
The salty reality
Salt has gotten its negative rap due to its ugly counterparts; refinded foods.
It's easy to bat an eyelash to processed foods loaded with added sugar and riddled with indigestible oils because that's not what we've been drilled with as evil! Trust me, I grew up as an Ovaltine kid... if only I knew to read the first ingredient- SUGAR!
(No worries, I'll grill sugar another day ;) )
To abuse salt/electrolytes in these ways can absolutely cause fatal heart and blood diseases/issues.
But what if we knew how to utilize it?
Fluid balancing
Let's go over how too much water without electrolytes can be disastrous.
Our bodies know how to re-balance our bodily fluids, and it's a miracle at how well it does this job!
Drink alot of water? our brain will secrete the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) & you'll eliminate the remainder. Too much sodium? The excess is eliminated. However, the problems can arrise when prolonged exercise gets involved. During long durations of movement, the brain struggles to regulate the production of ADH; our bodies can get too watery & sodium levels drop!
Fluid imbalance
For athletes who are not aware of proper sodium/electrolyte:water ratios and purely replace water may experience symptoms of hyponatremia. These symptoms include muscle cramps, headache, weakness, fatigue, and confusion. Severe cases can include brain damage, seizures, and death.
The loss of body water during exercise has minimal effect on athletic performance, yet the loss/lack of sodium can be detrimental.
Reversing or coming out of a dehydrated/hyponatremia state can look like drinking a glass of salt water (varies/person)
Who needs salt?
Those who need a little extra salt may be..
- Athletes!
- Those undergo ketosis or a low carb diet
- Those who live in intense climates
(hot and cold!)
The biggest take away:
If you're an active individual, track how much salt you consume. If it's between 5-7 grams and you feel lively, energetic, and able to focus, you likely intake enough electrolytes to sustain you! If you feel groggy, light headed, and sweaty post movement/yoga/workout... drink a cup of salty water! OR check out "LMNT" products at www.drinklmnt.com
