Is Gatorade the best way to get electrolytes?

Summer is here! Well, I feel like it’s been here since May, but that’s Texas for you. T emperatures are already creeping into the 100s, which means nonstop sweating, for me anyway.

Sweat is primarily water, but it also contains electrolytes. We hear the term “electrolytes” thrown around a lot these days, and most of us have a vague idea of what the word means, but what exactly are they?

In chemistry, I was taught that an electrolyte is a compound that produces ions when dissolved in a solu tion such as water. They are called electrolytes because when they are present in solution, the solution is capable of conducting electricity. In our bodies, keeping them at certain concentrations is important for nerve signaling.

In simple terms, an electrolyte is a charged mineral, either posi- tive or negative. The most important electrolytes for our bodies are sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Let’s start with sodium, which is present in salt. For the most part, most of us get plenty, if not too much, sodium. Sodium is involved in nerve and muscle function, and it also helps regulate the amount of water that’s in and around our cells.

When we eat too much salt, we retain flu id,orswell.Youcan also suffer from low sodium levels, which is called hyponatremia. Hyponatremia can be caused by certain disorders, such as kidney disease, some medications, or when a person drinks too much water without also replenishing electrolytes. The first symptoms of hyponatremia are headache, fatigue, weakness and nausea. More severe cases can result in confusion, seizures, coma and death.