We all feel like the best version of ourselves till we have to deal with the unwanted symptoms of electrolyte deficiency. It varies from person to person, but in my case at least, when I push my body too hard, or I am outdoors for prolonged periods and I sweat profusely, the first thing I notice is a bad case of fatigue or muscle weakness.
It’s normal to feel tired after working out or to have the occasional cramp or two after modifying your exercise routine. But when you are dealing with weakness that affects the rest of your day-to-day tasks, headaches or intense muscle cramps that last for hours after finishing your exercise routine? Then, in scenarios like this, it’s likely that you are actually suffering from an electrolyte imbalance.
This, in itself, is not exactly the end of the world. We have evolved to push our bodies to the maximum, and evolution has made us prioritise cooling at the detriment of prolonged charged minerals conservation. We are efficient in keeping electrolytes where they belong: in our blood and tissues. But no matter how great the human body is at preserving its energy resources, lose enough sweat and you will also start to release electrolytes, especially Sodium.
We Can React Differently
Sometimes the signs of a mineral deficiency are quite easy to spot. Twitching eyes, cramps, tingling, numbness and intense muscle weakness are all tell-tale signs of deficiencies in electrolytes. Other times, however, the symptoms are more cognitive in nature.
My girlfriend, for example, mostly suffers intense fatigue and mental fog after sweating for some time, while my friend, who is an amateur marathon runner, usually just deals with cramps. We are all different, and our bodies’ baseline levels of electrolytes are diverse. But, no matter how fit you are, or in what types of physical activities you get yourself involved, one thing is for sure: electrolytes drinks will help you out, and they represent perhaps one of the best purchases you can make, at a reasonable price.
Not everyone will develop a deficiency of electrically charged minerals. For this to happen, you should have a low fluid intake, be outside for extended periods while sweating profusely, work out intensely, or navigate the ramifications of short-term illnesses such as a stomach bug, the flu, or COVID. That said, it’s not exactly uncommon, and the unwanted symptoms of electrolyte imbalance can be alleviated with electrolytes drinks.
How Should You Feel After Electrolytes Drinks?
Well, it depends on your body’s baseline of electrically charged minerals. If you didn’t sweat much and your magnesium, potassium and sodium levels are still within normal values, electrolytes drinks should not have that much effect on you. That said, if you are dehydrated, you have lost a ton of minerals through sweating, or/and you are dealing with a short-term illness, the effects of supplements with electrolytes should be quite substantial.
A couple of weeks ago, while in Vietnam, doing the Ha Giang loop, I got struck with one of the worst cases of food poisoning of my life. I don’t know exactly what it was that made me so sick, but all I know is that I never threw up that much as I did during that night. Now, eventually this stopped, and I could retain some fluids, but now I had another thing to worry about.
Some Unexpected Symptoms
My hands got absolutely numb, I had trouble concentrating even on the most minute things, my muscles felt crampy, and I ran out of breath after a couple of minutes of walking around at a normal pace. By all accounts, I had a moderate case of mineral deficiency, and I had to do something. So, I went and purchased some qualitative electrolyte supplements from a local pharmacy and the effects, in less than one hour, were substantial.
My energy levels gradually returned, my dizziness disappeared, my hands stopped being numb and the cramps I felt got less pronounced. I wasn’t back to my old self, sure. But, all things considered, the difference between me before electrolytes and me after was substantial. For being such a cheap purchase, electrolyte supplements really do make a surprising amount of difference, in the right set of circumstances.
Why Go for Electrolyte-Rich Drinks?
In all honesty, it’s all a matter of preferences. Personally, I got used to the taste of electrolytes drinks, especially when they come in fruity flavours, and I seek them out due to convenience. Drinks that are rich in electrolytes are designed for rapid hydration; they are better absorbed in the body, and they require no digestion, so they are fast-acting.
Now, are they for everyone? Not always. Minerally-charged drinks often have a high level of sugar and they might not always be calorie-beneficial. Are you trying to lose weight? In that case, pills or tablets with Sodium, Potassium or Magnesium might prove to be a better fit. With that being said, electrolytes drinks simply work, they are widely available, they are cheap, and they come in a wide variety of flavours suitable for all tastes.
Something That’s Good to Have in the Household
During periods of illness, mineral-charged drinks can be a better solution than powders or pills, as you can sip them slowly while nauseous, they are better tolerated when dealing with an inflamed stomach, and they also contribute to hydration. Pills/tablets are great if portability is a concern. But personally, I prefer drinks due to the taste.
Pills with electrolytes are fantastic for providing a quick boost to base-level charged minerals after workout sessions, and of course, they also work when dealing with illness. It’s just that electrolytes drinks simply taste better and they are available in a huge variety of flavours. You can’t, however, go wrong with any of them. Whether you choose drinks, powders, tablets, or professional ORS solutions, the important thing is to boost your hydration and restore proper charged mineral values, as the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance are unpleasant to say the least.
