Skipping your electrolytes sachets after an intense workout session is perhaps not exactly a disaster. However, it is an action that could have consequences you will feel in the morning. Not taking electrolytes, regardless of their form, is something that might impact your overall recovery times, put a damper on your performance and make it harder to regain the form you once had.
Now, skipping the best electrolytes in Australia once in a while is not the end of the world. But do this regularly? It might be one of your most uninspired ideas. When you lose electrolytes, during sweating, you are losing the charged minerals that pretty much dictate how your body operates. Sodium regulates the values of fluid inside cell walls, Potassium keeps your heart beating, Magnesium is crucial for muscle recovery, while Calcium is the quintessential element of your bone structure.
You Will Probably Feel It
If you don’t replenish these electrolytes, and you only drink water, you will dilute what little minerals you have left in your bloodstream. Which, let’s face it, is not exactly a good idea. In my case, skipping two or three electrolyte sachets in a row is equivalent to having an awful time next time I’m trying to work out. Maybe it’s a placebo, maybe it’s not, but all I know is that electrolytes help my muscles recover much faster, they prevent the appearance of high-intensity cramps, and they also reduce my fatigue.
Will it be the same for you? Who knows. Even the best electrolytes work differently between people, as our body’s baseline level of electrolytes is not the same. I, for instance, have a natural imbalance of Magnesium. But my gf for example, always had lower levels of Calcium. Electrolytes hit us in different ways, but what is true is that, for most of us, supplementation with them can only be beneficial.
A More Efficient Form of Hydration
Electrolytes such as Sodium and Magnesium can help your body better absorb the water you drink. Sodium, for instance, regulates the fluid balance in and out of cells, and by adding it and glucose to our drink, fluids are better absorbed into the cells. It’s the basic principle of osmosis. Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium all work in their own ways inside the human body, and they have a role in keeping your vital internal systems in check.
You trained a lot; you walked all day in high heat, or are you currently down with the flu? If so, the last thing you want is not to replenish the electrolytes you lost. Electrolyte sachets are not just a nice-to-have bonus. They can represent the difference between a workout session that actually leads to productive results, versus one that amplifies your existing soreness. The best electrolytes in Australia support muscle contractions, have a role in the body’s natural production of ATP, and can ameliorate those pesky but real post-workout soreness we all feel from time to time.
An Underrated Help
Most people associate high-quality electrolyte sachets with post-workout recovery. But, in reality, their usage can go beyond helping with muscle soreness and fatigue after gym work. Are you currently down with the flu or suffering from a stomach bug? I am. For some reason, I managed to catch the mother of all flus in Thailand, where right now, as I’m writing this post, the temperature outside is 35°C, and it’s 11 PM. Plus, of course, since I am here, I had to be greeted by the customary stomach bug.
It wasn’t pretty or easy, but to be perfectly honest, what truly made a difference were the electrolyte sachets I brought with me from home. I lost a lot of fluids in the last couple of days, I experienced the most wonderful symptoms of electrolyte deficiency, and thus, the supplements I took a couple of hours earlier really made a difference in my case.
I am still sick, sure. But I feel better now than I did in the morning, I can actually concentrate on my work tasks, and my muscles no longer feel like I just did fifty push-ups in a row. So, I’ll call this a win and confidently say that the electrolytes I took helped me out. Were they the best electrolytes available in Australia? I don’t know. But they sure felt like this to me.
What Are the Main Symptoms of Electrolyte Deficiency?
It kind of differs from person to person. For most people, the first sign that something is wrong is dizziness, headaches or a feeling that something is not exactly right. However, for others, the first signs are often physical. In my case, for instance, I first experienced severe muscle cramps, shakiness and heart palpitations. All these are quite common symptoms.
Do you, however, also experience confusion, vomiting and chest discomfort? Then this can quickly transform into something a bit more serious, and you should 1) administer electrolytes immediately, and 2) likely visit a doctor. If you’ve been sweating a lot, you feel dizzy when standing up, your hands are shaky, you are tired but not sleepy, and water doesn’t seem to fix your symptoms or quench your thirst, chances are you are experiencing an imbalance of your blood electrolytes, and you need to take action. It’s not always obvious. But when it is, the symptoms can be quite unpleasant.
Granted, if it’s not too serious, most of the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance can be fixed with proper nutrition. But there’s a problem with this. Digestion takes time, and you likely want to feel better right in this instant, not in a couple of hours. Electrolyte sachets are fast-acting; they can help tremendously during illness, are recommended for athletes who need a bit of help with their post-workout recovery, and are available pretty much anywhere in Australia, at prices that are more than affordable. So, why should you not give them a try?
