Beauty
What if electrolytes were the secret to hydration?
The watchword of the moment? Electrolytes! And with summer just around the corner, we have to admit that these minerals are making our mouths water with their many benefits for our everyday ailments (often linked to dehydration). Find out why it's time to switch to electrolytes!
But to be properly hydrated, our cells need more than just water. They need an electrical charge to regulate the body's vital chemical reactions. This is where electrolytes come in. Electrolytes are a mixture of minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, phosphate, etc.) endowed with the electrical charge the body needs. They transport water into cells, and help maintain the balance between internal and external fluids within cells, regulating the nervous system and muscles, maintaining balanced pH levels and thus maintaining optimal hydration.
The benefits of electrolytes
In short, electrolytes help to :
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Balance fluids and lock in moisture levels with sodium and potassium, which facilitate the passage of water through the skin to ensure balanced hydration levels.
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Promote muscle recovery and maintain healthy muscle function.
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Maintain a healthy nervous system, good mental health and quality sleep.
When should you take electrolytes?
- On a daily basis as a long-term treatment: to rehydrate the body which has lost water overnight, but also to protect against signs of dehydration, such as cramps, headaches, concentration problems, muscle weakness, the feeling of always being thirsty or digestive problems.
- Before or after sport : to increase endurance and avoid dehydration during physical effort, to allow good muscular contractions (and less cramps and aches) and thus promote recovery.
- In hot weather : to protect against dehydration and replenish electrolytes lost during "excessive sweating".
- During periods of stress, anxiety or illness: because stress and anxiety deplete potassium, an electrolyte essential to the proper functioning of the nervous system, cognitive health and mood (in combination with magnesium). What's more, when you're ill, you can lose a lot of fluids.
- Travel : to protect against the risk of dehydration caused by air travel due to high altitude and low cabin humidity.
- After a night out, before going to bed : to avoid alcohol-related dehydration, a well-known diuretic.
What's more, it even benefits the skin by contributing to the formation of collagen thanks to vitamin Cand helps protect cells from oxidative stress. It also helps reduce fatigue and maintain a normal energy metabolism, thanks to magnesium, and enhances cognitive function, thanks to zinc. Finally, it helps maintain healthy muscle function, making it the perfect sports ally.
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