From feeling tired and light-headed to being irritable and having an excessive thirst, the symptoms of dehydration can be many.
Dehydration can occur in multiple ways, from heatstroke to illnesses (such diarrhoea and vomiting) to a general insufficient intake of appropriate fluids. The regular consumption of diuretics - such as tea and coffee - can also contribute towards dehydration.
Naturally, bouts of intense exercise can also induce dehydration if not carefully managed.
And, on a somewhat starker point, dehydration can go unnoticed by many people (lay studies suggest that as much as 75% of the U.S. population is chronically dehydrated).
Certain population groups are also vulnerable to dehydration, with the NHS stating that babies, children, and older adults are at the most risk of dehydration.
So, how can you avoid dehydration? The most effective way is to get into the habit of drinking plenty of fluids (ideally water) on a regular basis - the British Nutrition Foundation suggests that the average healthy adult should drink between six and eight glasses of water per day (approximately 1.2 litres).
If you are engaged in strenuous physical exercise, you will need to consume more than this.
However, you may also potentially benefit from taking electrolytes - which have been shown in studies to help regulate body water homeostasis and contribute towards the uptake of important minerals such as Potassium, Sodium, and Magnesium.
What are electrolytes?
When you’re in your local supplement shop or browsing online you’re likely to encounter an array of drinks and powders that bear the name ‘electrolyte’ on their packaging.
But, what exactly are they? And, what do they do?
The most important thing to know is that the term electrolyte refers to those minerals that help the body maintain electrical neutrality in cells (allowing the free flow of ions from one cell to another). Electrolytes also help to generate and conduct the ‘action potentials’ in the nerves and muscles (for example, nerve signals). In other words, electrolytes are effectively particles that carry a positive or negative charge.
That’s all a technical way of saying that electrolytes are important! Because of their ‘electrical’ nature, imbalances of electrolytes can result in myriad symptoms, such as; fatigue, heart arrhythmias, confusion and mental fog, muscle weakness, cramping, headaches and more.
On a more technical level, deficiencies in these important electrolytes can result in the development of conditions such as Hyponatraemia, Hypokalemia, Hypochloraemia, Hypocalcaemia, and Hypophosphatemia.
The core electrolytes (in terms of overall bodily function) are Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate, and Bicarbonate.
So, when you see an ‘electrolyte’ product it’s the minerals that are the electrolytes - the ‘powder’ or ‘drink’ is simply the medium through which electrolytes are delivered into the body.
The electrolyte levels in your body are regulated via ‘water turnover’, that is, they are imbibed via foodstuffs, and lost via urine and sweat (although they can also be lost via vomiting and diarrhoea).
Some people are also considered to be ‘salty sweaters’, losing more sodium through their sweat than others. You can tell if you’re a salty sweater if you tend to get white salt stains on your clothing after a workout - that’s the sodium that has been excreted by your body.
In such instances, it may be beneficial to add an electrolyte supplement to your post-workout regimen.
Our product formulator Dr. Dean St Mart PhD has also devised a simple method for determining if you’re dehydrated, summed up by the initialism WUT:
- Morning scale weight (W).
- Urine colour (U).
- Thirst perception (T).
Should you find that your scale weight has reduced by more than one percent, your urine is a dark colour, and you have a persistent thirst, these are signs that you may be dehydrated.
To sum up, electrolyte supplements are often a convenient way to replenish important electrolytes in your body - particularly after you’ve been engaged in strenuous exercise.
Supplement Needs Electrolyte+
You’ve hopefully now got a clear understanding of what electrolyte supplements are and how they work.
But, how can you make sure you buy the very best electrolyte supplement?
Look for the following things:
Efficacious doses of key electrolytes
Especially Potassium, Magnesium Taurate, and Sodium. The Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ contains these electrolytes at the following doses; Potassium (510 mg per 7 g serving), Magnesium Taurate (500 mg per 7 g serving), and Sodium (140 mg per 7 g serving).
Contains the most bioavailable forms of electrolytes
For example, Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ contains Magnesium Taurate. This is Magnesium that has been chelated with the amino acid Taurine. This helps to ensure maximum bioavailability of Magnesium - e.g. the Magnesium is much more likely to be absorbed by your body.
Avoid electrolytes that use cheaper, less bioavailable forms of Magnesium such as Magnesium Oxide - these are a false economy! Likewise, Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ contains Sodium as Trisodium Citrate, and Potassium as Potassium Citrate. These are both hygroscopic, highly absorbable forms of their respective minerals.
Available in different formats
The very best electrolyte supplements - such as Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ are available in different formats.
We know that everyone is different and have their own preferred ways to consume supplements.
Some people prefer electrolyte powder - as this allows them to ‘customise’ their electrolyte intake, mixing them with water and thus maximising their potential hydration.
Other people - especially those with hectic schedules and lifestyles - don’t want the hassle of preparing an electrolyte powder, and instead prefer electrolyte drinks. Electrolyte drinks are often referred to as RTD electrolytes - meaning they’re ready-to-drink. As a result, they’re a really convenient way to replenish the electrolytes in your body following a workout.
The Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ is available in both powdered and ready-to-drink form.
Excellent taste profile
As you can imagine, drinking a supplement that’s packed with Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium has the potential to not exactly taste great.
That’s why here at Supplement Needs we’ve worked really hard to create an electrolyte supplement that not only contains efficacious doses of electrolytes, but is enjoyable to drink, too!
The powdered form of Electrolyte+ is available in the following flavours; Cola Rush, Blackcurrant Burst, Citrus Twist, and Pineapple Punch.
The ready-to-drink version of Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ is available in Cola Rush and Pineapple Punch flavours.
Developed by the best
The very best brands know that electrolyte supplements should be far more than just ‘salty water’.
Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ has been developed by Dr. Dean St Mart PhD. As you’ll have seen above, Dr Dean has ensured that Electrolyte+ is the very best electrolyte product on the market - containing only the highest-quality ingredients, including chelated, highly bioavailable minerals.
Underpinning this is Dr Dean’s phenomenal knowledge and experience - including a double first class honours degree in chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry and a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry and fluorescence spectroscopy.
That’s why so many people are searching online for ‘supplement needs electrolytes’ and ‘dean st mart electrolytes’ - they know who makes the best electrolyte supplement!
Want to buy the best electrolyte you can? Then buy Supplement Needs Electrolyte+ now!