The BRAT Diet

“What Is Electrolytes” is what many ask, but the proper question is :”What Are Electrolytes and How Do They Work?”  Here’s what they are, where they are found, what benefit they have in your body, what happens when you are depleted (or lose) them and in this Brat diet post you find out how to replenish them, easily if there is a need.

The benefits of electrolytes in the human body are vast and crucial to your every day function.  Water and electrolytes, essential to your daily function and lost when energy is spent or you sweat; replacing electrolytes lost is a must to retain hydration – - waiting to drink until you become thirsty is too late.  Hydrate and rehydrate (before) your body craves what electrolytes and fluids it has lost.

What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are electrically charged ions that are found in the blood and other body fluids. A balanced level of electrolytes in the body keeps the amount of water in the body adequate. The level of electrolytes also affects the blood’s acidity and muscle action. They exist in the blood in the form of bases, acids and salts. The kidney works effectively in keeping the electrolytes in the blood at an adequate level. Electrolytes are actually one of the most essential substances that the body must have in adequate level to ensure that optimum performance of every organ in different physiological processes.

Basically, an individual gains electrolytes when he drinks fluids and loses it when he sweats. The major electrolytes found in the human body are sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, sulfate, bicarbonate, magnesium and calcium.

Electrolytes play a crucial role in various psychological processes in the human body. The cells in the nerve, heart and muscles use it in keeping the voltages in their membranes and in carrying electrical impulses from one cell to another.

People can obtain electrolytes through the food and the fluids they take. Athletes tend to lose huge amount of electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, when they engage in vigorous workout. Drinking sports drink after a heavy exercise is very crucial to restore the lost electrolytes during the activity. This is why thousands of energy sports drinks contain potassium chloride or sodium chloride. In fact, medical professionals do not recommend taking large amount of water after exercise because it may dilute the remaining electrolytes in the body that can result to other serious illness.

“What is electrolytes?”  With the infant or children’s cases, they usually lose electrolytes when they suffer from diarrhea or vomiting. To prevent seizures and dehydration, electrolytes must be replaced and it must be in an adequate level. This is why sports drink and Pedialyte are so often immediately prescribed by physicians. However, energy sports drinks contain high concentrations of sugar that are not best in promoting the child’s health. This is why Pedialyte would be a better choice to recover the lost electrolytes, or a low calorie Gatorade, or similar sports drink which significantly reduces the amount of sugar per serving.

When you implement the Brat Diet during sickness or in your state of recovery, adding a low calorie sports drink, that has both carbohydrates (carbs) and electrolytes is an equally smart move.  Although, you don’t want a sugar rich drink, especially for kids, if you have not eaten for some time, Brat diet ingredients or not, having some sugars in a drink will elevate your mood and give you a bit of extra energy to help in your recovery.

Studies show that electrolytes are actively involved in a number of vital body processes. Heart functions, nerve function, and muscle coordination and control are greatly affected by the level of electrolytes found in a human body. Even the body’s natural capacity to absorb fluids is affected by electrolytes. Though intake of electrolytes is recommended to promote health, excessive intake of the substance can lea to several serious illness such as hypernatremia,, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and hypokalemia.

Electrolytes are actually considered as one of the smallest minerals or substances found in the body that are very crucial to every cell. With help of electrolytes, the cell is able to perform its several body functions effectively. Electrolytes such as sodium and potassium play an important role in allowing the cells to generate sufficient amount of energy and maintain the stability of the cell walls. Sodium (salt) regulates the water level in the body, sends electrical signal and allows the muscles and the brain to work effectively.  Knowing what electrolytes are / what an electrolyte is will help to ensure you properly are fueling your body, when sick or simply when fluids are spent.