This article was originally published in Women’s Running.
Many runners are familiar with common electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals, namely sodium and potassium, play a role in helping to maintain fluid balance while exercising. Essentially, they allow your muscles and nerves to continue contracting optimally. Since we lose electrolytes along with water in our sweat, we need to make sure we are consuming an adequate amount to stay properly hydrated.
Having sufficient electrolytes on board can help prevent dehydration and muscle cramps, as well as aid in cognitive function and performance. Staying properly hydrated is even more important in the summer months, when we tend to lose more water and electrolytes in sweat.
Most runners are more concerned with low sodium levels than with higher ones. It is the electrolyte most lost in sweat, says registered dietitian Kylee Van Horn. “It plays a key role in both muscle contraction, fluid balance, and the bodies’ ability to utilize glucose (sugars) in the small intestine,” she says. “It works alongside chloride and potassium to…
