Electrolyte drinks can support keep your body balanced, but if you’re ailing, they can make symptoms worse

For generations, Gatorade and similar electrolyte drinks have proven to be helpful tools for athletes seeking a competitive edge.

In 1965 Dr. Robert Cade and a team of scientists at the University of Florida College of Medicine created Gatorade to support their football players combat heat exhaustion and muscle cramps during long workouts in extreme temperatures.

The winning formula of the drink containing water, sodium, potassium and sugar works effectively with the human body, keeping users hydrated, giving them energy and optimizing muscle function.

Although I do not work for or receive funding from Gatorade, as a registered dietitian and nutrition instructorI have observed how specific electrolyte drinks can be hand-selected to boost hydration in hospitalized patients, student-athletes, and even myself.

And although Gatorade was one of the first electrolyte drinks widely marketed to consumers, its combination of ingredients paved the way for even more sports and electrolyte drinks to appear on grocery store shelves. If you want to get a specific nutritional advantage from a sports drink, you can consult a registered dietitian for a personalized plan. Otherwise, if you’ve ever wondered what makes these colorful drinks their nutritional attraction, here’s a closer look at some of the key ingredients.

The importance of hydration

Whether people are athletes or not, the human body constantly loses water through normal human functions such as sweating, urination, and even breathing. When we lose water, the body also excretes key electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. These electrolytes are crucial for everything from heart function to muscle contractions.

Electrolytes They get their name “electro” from the electric charge when dissolved in water. This charge allows them to work throughout the body in chemical reactions that maintain normal brain function, balance fluids inside and outside body cells, and even balance the acidity or alkalinity of your blood.

A lot of stress on the body can accelerate it dehydration process – whether it’s intentional, like running 5K, or unintentional, like getting a nasty stomach bug. If left untreated, dehydration can cause more earnest complications, such as fainting and irregular heartbeats.

To prevent these complications, you must replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Stressful scenarios like exercise and illness are a great time to consider an electrolyte replacement drink.

A closer look at the ingredients in Gatorade

Water, the main ingredient of most sports drinks, moisturizes you. The human body consists of about 60% waterTherefore, to maintain an adequate level of hydration, it is vital to listen to your body and drink water regularly. When the amount of water in the body decreases, the brain sends thirst signals.

However, these signals often lag behind hydration status. So when you feel thirsty, your body is probably already slightly dehydrated. For a more exact hydration assessment, check out urine color. Darker yellow or golden urine? Take some water. Pale yellow or clear urine? Stay well hydrated.

Sodium, another ingredient in Gatorade, attracts water. When you are dehydrated, the blood in your body is more concentrated because less water is circulating overall.

When you have less blood volume, your blood vessels don’t dilate as much as they normally would, which ultimately lowers your blood pressure. If your blood pressure drops too quickly due to dehydration, you may feel dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, or feeble.

The good news is that sodium actively draws water into the bloodstream. Therefore, during intense training or in the case of an illness that causes dehydration, it may be helpful to consume a salty snack or sports drink.

The potassium in Gatorade regulates muscle contractions. This electrolyte is especially vital for regulating heartbeat and also helps with normal contractions of skeletal muscles. If your body lacks enough potassium, painful muscle spasms or dizziness can disrupt your workout or day.

Sugar provides quick energy and the ability to absorb nutrients. The conventional Gatorade drink contains glucose and dextrose, called uncomplicated sugars. Basic sugar is one that the body can quickly digest and absorb to quickly boost blood sugar levels.

Intense aerobic exercise or strength training lasting longer than 60 minutes, performing activities in very scorching or soggy climates, or exercising due to an undesirable disease can speed up the body’s metabolism and quickly deplete it. blood glucose. When your glucose levels drop, you may feel tired, feeble, dizzy, nauseous, or have difficulty concentrating.

The combination of nutrients in Gatorade was formulated with athletes in mind, but is also sometimes discussed as a drug to consider during a nasty bout of gastrointestinal illness. Diarrhea AND vomiting they provide an straightforward escape route for electrolytes such as sodium and potassium.

Combining energy drinks containing uncomplicated sugars, water and electrolytes may be one strategy for staying hydrated during times when food and fluids are complex to swallow.

However, be careful – many conventional sports drinks are high in sugar, intended to replenish lost energy during training. When the same sugar content is introduced into an upset gastrointestinal tract, it can draw in additional water, leading to more diarrhea. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some other options to consider.

Choose an electrolyte drink with lower sugar content. Drinks to consider include Pedialyte or even broth-based soup. Both will moisturize with minimal added sugar.

The human body is extremely competent at managing nutrients in the blood. In most cases, balanced meals and water intake will be enough to meet your daily nutrient requirements. However, during intense exercise or an unexpected illness, the body may have difficulty maintaining its usual balance.

If you notice unusual symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue or persistent thirst, your body will need attention. In special cases of dehydration due to exercise or illness, a sports drink like Gatorade can be a uncomplicated tool to support you get back to your best.