What Are Electrolytes and How Do They Affect Our Health?
Electrolytes are chemicals that conduct electricity when mixed with water. They regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and help rebuild damaged tissue. The muscles and neurons are sometimes referred to as the “electric tissues” of the body. They rely on the movement of electrolytes through the fluid inside, outside, or between cells.
The electrolytes in human bodies include:
- sodium
- potassium
- calcium
- bicarbonate
- magnesium
- chloride
- phosphate
Health Benefits of Electrolyte Consumption:
Chloride: one of the most important electrolytes in the blood, it helps keep the amount of fluid inside and outside of your cells in balance. It also helps maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of your body fluids.
Magnesium: helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady.
Sulfate: plays a role in the formation of brain tissue and also detoxifies the body of environmental contaminants.
Sodium: is the primary ion and electrolyte within the body, it is needed for blood regulation. It plays a pivotal role in enzyme operations and muscle contraction. It is very important for fluid maintenance within the human body.
Potassium: enables your heart to beat; A hundred thousand times a day, potassium helps trigger your heart to squeeze blood through your body It helps your muscles to move, your nerves to work, and your kidneys to filter blood.
Lithium: a trace mineral that is linked to longer life spans and lower rates of mental illness. Areas where tap water has the lowest lithium levels have higher suicide and homicide rates, whereas areas with high amounts of the naturally occurring mineral, lithium, report a high sense of well-being.
Boron: used for building strong bones, treating osteoarthritis, as an aid for building muscles and increasing testosterone levels, and for improving thinking skills and muscle coordination.
Calcium: the most common mineral in the body, plays an essential role in blood clotting, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and bone and tooth formation. Studies indicate that calcium plays a role in blood vessel contraction and dilation which affects blood pressure.
What functions do electrolytes perform in the body?
Calcium: Helps nerves conduct messages; muscle contractions; blood clotting; signaling the heart muscle.
Magnesium: Stimulates enzyme activation; muscle contraction; protein metabolism; nerve conduction; bone and teeth formation.
Chloride: Vital component of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid); maintain acid- base balance; maintain water balance.
Bicarbonate: Neutralizes stomach acid; helps to maintain a healthy acid / base balance.
Potassium: Nerve conduction; maintain water balance; maintain acid-base balance; muscle contraction.
Sodium: Maintain water balance; maintain acid-base balance; muscle contraction; nerve contraction.