We all know that we’re supposed to drink more water, and so we find ourselves carrying reusable bottles around like emotional support objects, but sometimes, plain old H2O just doesn’t hit the mark. Have you ever had a glass of water and still felt strangely thirsty? Or maybe felt that mid-afternoon brain fog creep in, even though you’ve been consciously sipping all day? Let’s enter the world of electrolytes…
You may have seen these little sachets, bottles and dissolvable tablets popping up on your social media feed or advertised in your local health shop and wondering if they’re just another wellness fad. Spoiler alert: they’re actually backed by some pretty cool science! So, let’s break down what they are, why our body craves them, and how to use them in your daily routine.
What Are Electrolytes?
In short, electrolytes are clean, sugar-free drink mixes that have been scientifically designed to put back what our body loses through sweat, stress and at act of living.
Unlike neon-coloured sports drinks from the supermarket which are usually packed with more sugar than a slice of cake, electrolytes focus on the ‘big three’ of sodium, potassium and magnesium. This trio aren’t just minerals, tiny electrical conductors, helping our cells to communicate, keep our muscles moving, and ensure that our brain stays on throughout the day.
Virtue electrolytes also contain calcium, phosphorous, chloride and vitamin C to contribute to the function of the immune system. With no artificial nasties there are no sugar crashes, just the stuff that our body actually uses and benefits from. Vegan friendly with zero calories, 1-2 sachets per day can make a world of difference to your overall health and wellbeing.
Why Take Electrolytes?
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a marathon runner in order to benefit from an electrolyte boost, as water needs electrolytes to actually enter our cells. Without them, water passes straight through the body – hence multiple bathroom trips throughout the day.
Our brain is incredibly sensitive to fluid balance, as even a mild level of dehydration can make us feel grumpy, tired and unable to focus. And if you get those annoying leg cramps at night or feel strangely heavy during a workout, it’s a sign that your magnesium and potassium levels might be dipping.
And for those who may have had one too many glasses of wine or simply a really late night, electrolytes help our body to recover way faster than drinking plain water alone.
How To Take Electrolytes
Whilst electrolytes can come in many different forms, I love the convenience of Virtue sachets, as I can pop them into my desk drawer, gym kit or handbag to have at any time of day. The most straightforward way to take electrolytes is to mix one sachet of powder into around 500ml of cold water, which you can stir or shake to ensure that it dissolves. This can conveniently be in a glass or protein shaker.
In the summer, it’s lovely to add a few cubes of ice or a squirt of fresh lime to a glass of electrolytes to make it taste more like a fancy mocktail. They also come in a wide variety of delicious and uplifting flavours; I personally adore strawberry lemonade, mango passionfruit, lemon lime and pink candy floss.
If you prefer a more subtle hint of flavour, you can mix one sachet into a larger volume of water, a litre bottle instead of 500ml, and sip it throughout the morning. For maximum effect, it’s best to take electrolytes shortly after waking, in order to balance out the dehydration of sleeping, and before drinking coffee to prevent caffeine headaches.
You can also drink electrolytes during or after a workout to replace what is sweated out, and they’re particularly effective around the 3pm energy slump in place of having another coffee, as afternoon tiredness tends to be down to dehydration.
Who Can Take Elecytrolytes
In short, almost everyone can benefit from taking electrolytes, but they’re especially a lifesaver for coffee lovers, as caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it flushes water and minerals out of our system. So if you live on espresso then you need electrolytes.
They’re super helpful for those who mindfully consumer fewer carbohydrates, perhaps on a low-carb or keto regime, as the body doesn’t hold onto water as easily, often leading to the Keto Flu. And with Virtue electrolytes being sugar-free, it makes it the perfect keto companion.
For those who are constantly on the go, mothers, office workers and those who sometimes forget to eat or drink properly, popping a sachet into your bag is an insurance policy against a mid-day crash. And finally, it’s ideal for fitness fanatics, whether you’re attending a pilates class or HIIT training at the gym, if you’re sweating, you’re losing salt.
Electrolytes are all about making you feel more functional and giving your body the basic tools that it needs to run smoothly throughout the day. If you find yourself feeling tired, sluggish or simply want your water to work harder for you, then why not give your brain, muscles and taste buds a treat!
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