Saturday, December 14, 2013

Using Hydrating Water To Restore Healthy Electrolyte Levels

By Cornelia White


Drinking the right quantities of pure water is an important way to stay healthy, but in certain circumstances, the body needs a little extra. During hot weather and heavy exercise, it is easy to over-hydrate when drinking too many fluids and insufficient electrolytes. When the body's sodium levels are set off balance by over-hydration, illness, coma and death are all possibilities. Hydrating water adds both fluids and salts to the body.

Potassium, glucose, sodium, and calcium are all important to keep in balance if the organs are to function well. Any one of these salts, when imbalanced, can lead to too much fluid in the brain and organs. Fluid intoxication causes fits and concentration problems. This is most likely in those who have a co-existing imbalance of anti-diuretic hormone, which causes cravings for water while preventing the kidneys from excreting fluids.

Low sodium levels tend to occur not because there is a lack of salt in the diet but rather because there is an over-abundance of fluids lacking electrolytes. Those undertaking a challenging physical training program thus need to add sodium, glucose, and other salts to their intake so that imbalances do not occur.

To stay healthy, the body needs to maintain a delicate balance of every salt. This influences health at a cellular level. The most important electrolytes needed are potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, and sodium. Pre-prepared formulas that offer the correct levels of salts and fluids are an excellent way to supplement the body with the perfect balance required, particularly when one is tempted to drink more fluids than are healthy.

Exercise can lead to salt imbalances as the result of excess sweating. In this case, it is most likely that potassium and sodium levels will become low. This is most commonly experienced during short bouts of exercise, whereas those running long marathons are more prone to over-hydration and the resultant decline in all electrolytes.

When food poisoning or similar illnesses are suffered, water and electrolytes must be replaced. Sports drinks tend to contain high levels of sugar, which are not healthy when nausea and diarrhea are an issue. Instead, it is best to use sugar and glucose-free preparations that supplement fluids and salts.

Every electrolyte the body needs serves a different function. In today's health-conscious world, many are eliminating sodium from their diets but it has an important function. When levels become too low, hyponatremia results, which can lead to coma and death. Sodium also helps the body to balance its fluid levels while preventing muscle cramps.

The cardiac cells are reliant on potassium to keep the heart beat regular. It is also an important part of electrolyte balances and muscle health. When there is insufficient potassium intake, neuropathy is a common complaint.

During heat waves, hydrating water helps to increase low blood pressure while replacing electrolytes lost through sweating. Fluid is replaced in a way that does not cause salt imbalances. The highly specific quantities of salts needed by the body can be maintained in a way that pure water cannot achieve.




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