The best way to get electrolytes is by consuming them through your diet. You can get electrolytes from foods like chicken, watermelon, and avocado. You can also get electrolytes through drinks like 100% fruit juice, coconut water, or sports drinks.
Best Overall: Gatorade
The OG of electrolyte drinks, available in powder and ready to drink forms, Gatorade is a blend of fluid, carbs, and electrolytes and is specifically formulated to replace electrolytes lost during exercise.
Bottom line: Gatorade = more sugar, Pedialyte = more electrolytes. Both drinks offer sugar-free versions, but generally Gatorade has a lot more sugar than Pedialyte, which can be good if you're engaging in intense exercise. Many Pedialyte drinks offer more electrolytes than their Gatorade counterparts.
For example, milk was found to be even more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach and keep hydration happening over a longer period.
1/4 cup lemon juice. 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut water. 2 cups cold water. Additional options: sweetener, powdered magnesium and/or calcium, depending on needs.
Strong Electrolyte Examples
HCl (hydrochloric acid), H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), NaOH (sodium hydroxide) and KOH (potassium hydroxide) are all strong electrolytes.
Coconut water is, undoubtedly, the best hydrating drink. It is low in calories and rich in potassium and is known to have better hydrating qualities than plain water.
Signs of electrolyte imbalance
When the amount of electrolytes in your body is too high or too low, you can develop: Dizziness. Cramps. Irregular heartbeat.
An electrolyte imbalance can be caused by: Losing fluids as a result of persistent vomiting or diarrhea, sweating or fever. Not drinking or eating enough. Chronic respiratory problems, such as emphysema.
Water. While it likely comes as no surprise, drinking water is most often the best and cheapest way to stay hydrated and rehydrate. Unlike many other beverages, water contains no added sugars or calories, making it ideal to drink throughout the day or specifically when you need to rehydrate, such as after a workout.
The fastest method for rehydrating patients is the medical technique of intravenous (IV) fluid replacement. This sends electrolyte-balanced fluids directly into the blood stream so it gets distributed by your blood cells throughout the body almost immediately.
So, in a nutshell, if you want to hydrate, cold tap water is a good choice. If you want to burn some extra calories, munch on ice — or Italian ice.
“In general, water should be sufficient hydration for a regular workout, but electrolyte drinks are beneficial in high intensity workouts in warm environments, regardless of duration,” says Dr. Sprague.
POWERADE ION4 contains four electrolytes – Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium – lost in sweat. Sodium and Potassium help you to retain fluid so you stay hydrated, as well as maintaining your blood volume, sweat rate and muscle blood flow. Without these electrolytes, your urinary output increases (ie.
Is it OK to drink electrolytes every day? You can drink electrolytes every day (or choose to consume a supplement instead). This is especially necessary if you exercise and/or sweat often. Electrolytes will help replace minerals, such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium, that are lost when you sweat or get sick.
Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the significant electrolytes along with magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates.
Yes. Gatorade is an electrolyte-rich drink that helps replace electrolytes that are lost in the body during exercise. Electrolytes can be lost through sweat and urine, and are used in daily bodily functions such as regulation of the nervous system.