Electrolytes are electrically-charged ions, or salts. Your body requires electrolytes because they maintain voltages across your cell membranes, carrying electrical impulses and keeping your vital organs, nerves, and muscles in check.
When you sweat, you lose necessary electrolytes like sodium and potassium. It’s a good idea to replenish with a sports recovery drink because these beverages are loaded with electrolytes that rehydrate and re-energize your body so you can get back in the game.
Read on to learn more about the importance of electrolytes in sport recovery drinks.
- Why is Potassium So Important?
- Isn’t Sodium Bad for Me?
- What Else is Good about Sports Recovery Drinks?
Why is Potassium So Important?
Potassium makes your heart, kidneys, and other essential organs perform normally. According to WebMD, Americans don’t get enough potassium due to eating too many processed foods and not enough whole foods.
A potassium deficiency may also occur if you’re an athlete. Athletes lose more potassium than the average person, because they sweat a lot more.
To avoid such fates, remember to replenish your electrolytes with whole foods or better yet, a sports recovery drink like coconut water, which has more potassium than a banana.
Isn’t Sodium Bad for Me?
Sodium plays an important role in muscle contraction and enzyme operation. It also maintains heart performance and glucose absorption. All of which are critical to your body, especially if you’re an athlete.
But why do so many people think sodium is bad for them?
Well, too much of anything is bad, as Mark Twain would say. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart and kidney disease. Most Americans consume too much sodium because they eat highly processed foods and sugary, salty sodas.
However, sports recovery drinks typically have lots of sodium too, so if you’re not breaking a sweat, try drinking regular water or coconut water, which is a low sodium sports recovery drink, to keep your sodium levels normal.
What Else is Good about Sports Recovery Drinks?
In addition to potassium and sodium, sports recovery drinks also contain other important electrolytes, including:
- Chloride
- Calcium
- Phosphate
- Magnesium
These electrolytes support bone and muscle strength, circulation, and proper cellular function.
The best sports recovery drinks will also contain good carbohydrates, or sugars, to boost your energy while supporting cell and muscle tissue.
Coconut water sports drinks are also an excellent source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber aids digestion while preventing digestive disorders. In addition, sports recovery drinks can be used to rehydrate and replenish your electrolytes when you are sick and losing a lot of fluids.
Why are sports recovery drinks important to you? Tell us below.
I am a chef and being in a hot kitchen all day moving around quickly it really drains you by the end of the day. Sports recovery drinks make it so i am much less exhausted by the end of a long day.
I am not a fan of the Sports Drink that are on the market because of all of the sugar in them. I drink plain which I don’t enjoy, now I will have another option and I am excited to give Phenom a try.
I am a raw food chef and studying to be a naturopathic doctor. Coconut water is so much healthier than all the other forms of electrolytes, gatorade, sports drinks, pedialyte… I believe food in it’s natural form is where you will get the most benefits because God put them together in just the right proportions. Magnesium and potassium are so critical for our bodies, there are so many people that are magnesium deficient!
I buy coconut water for my 95 year old grandmother. Her doctor had said she was dehydrated, Drinking coconut water has helped her stay hydrated.
After a long day and workout I can tell my body is worn out and needs something to replenish me and give me some vitamins and energy. I have tried all kinds of drinks but coconut water seems to have the best effect and makes a big difference. It seems to have all the natural vitamins and minerals I need to keep going each day.
My husband had intestinal surgery and gets diarrhea because of this. This causes him to get dehydrated a sometimes. The doctor recommended that he drinks sports drinks because the electrolytes will help prevent the dehydration. I would like for him to try a drink that’s 100% natural instead of the sugary drinks that are available on the store shelves
We use coconut water to marinade our Salmon in before cooking (yummy) But the best thing that I like the Hydro water for is to send to my son in Afghanistan. He wears very heavy gear in the heat of the day and I send him the Hydro knowing with confidence that it will replenish his lost electrolytes. Thank you so much for offering an alternative to sugary, unhealthy sports drinks!
I work outdoors and perspire a lot. Sports drinks really help me to keep my fluids and electrolytes in balance. Sometimes, when my balance if off, i get muscle strains.
I’ve always been curious exactly what electrolytes do to my body. I always tried taking them after long workouts, and they definitely helped, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I was drinking. Now I know. Thanks!
I had a gastric bypass and one of the first things after surgury was having to adjust to a liquid diet and progress very slowly to a balanced diet.Your intake is greatly reduced .I needed to replenish electrolytes frequently.I get cramps in my legs from lack of sodium or at least thats what I think it is.Sports drinks were recommended by nutrionalists and Drs.I wish I would have had coconut water available to me after surgury two years ago but I am anxious to try it now!
I buy coconut water for my 9 year old granddaughter. Her doctor had said she was dehydrated, Drinking coconut water has helped her stay hydrated.
Because PhenomWater’s got electrolytes.
I am a construction worker and after being in the heat all day your body needs a recharge. I would like to try this coconut water to see how this may be benificial to me.
I would like to try this. Please send me a voucher for me to try the coconut water.