We’ve all heard of electrolytes - their significance in our health and well-being cannot be overstated. Read on as we delve a little deeper to understand why they are so important, and what some of the important electrolytes are.

Electrolytes are essential for the functioning of our lives, and help in maintaining electrical neutrality in our cells, generating, and conducting actions in the nerves and muscles. These electrolytes come from our food and fluids, and they can sometimes have an imbalance which leads to either high or low levels that can disrupt normal bodily functions or even more serious complications. ^[1]

There are 7 major electrolytes that are super-important in the normal functioning of our bodies. Let us look at them and their functions, and what happens when we have too much or too little of any electrolyte.

The information about electrolytes in this article is sourced from Cleveland Clinic, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine.

Sodium

Sodium is the most abundant electrolyte found in the body, and plays a critical role in helping our cells maintain the right balance of fluids, as well as helps cells absorb nutrients.

Too much sodium can cause confusion, behavior changes, unusually strong reflexes, loss of muscle control, seizures, and even a coma. Too little sodium also causes confusion, irritability, weakened reflexes, nausea and vomiting, seizures and can also result in a coma.

Magnesium

Magnesium is part of helping our cells turn nutrients into the energy we use. Our brain and muscles rely heavily on magnesium to do their day-to-day jobs.

Too much magnesium can cause heart rhythm changes and arrhythmias, weakened reflexes, decreased ability to breathe and even cardiac arrests. Too little magnesium causes muscle weakness, twitching and loss of control, and heart irregular heart rhythms as well.

Potassium

Our cells use potassium alongside sodium, i.e. when a sodium ion enters a cell, a potassium ion leaves, and vice versa. Potassium is especially crucial to our heart function, and too much or too little can cause serious heart concerns.

Excess potassium causes weakness, an inability to move muscles, confusion, and irregular heart rhythms. Potassium deficiency can cause muscle weakness and cramps, feeling excessively thirsty and needing to pee more often than normal, dizziness or fainting when standing up too quickly.

Calcium

Calcium is a key element in our body, and everyone knows the role in plays in building strong teeth and bones. It’s also used to control muscles, transmit signals in our nerves, manage heart rhythm and more.

Too much calcium results in a host of problems, which include issues in the brain, digestive tract, kidneys, heart and skeletal problems. Not having enough calcium results in confusion and behavior changes, unusually strong reflexes and loss of muscle control, muscle twitching, spasms in the throat muscles that make it hard to speak or breathe.

Chloride

Chloride – which is the name for a chlorine ion - is the second-most common ion in our bodies. It’s also an integral part of how our cells maintain their internal and external balance of fluid and helps in maintaining the body’s natural pH balance.

Too much chloride can cause acidosis, which is when our blood is too acidic, resulting in nausea, vomiting and fatigue, as well as rapid, deeper breathing and confusion. Too little causes our blood to become more alkaline, the symptoms of which are confusion, irregular heart rhythms and muscle twitching or loss of control.

Phosphate

Phosphate is a key part of transporting chemical compounds and molecules outside our cells. It helps cells metabolize nutrients, and it’s also a key part of the building blocks that make up our DNA.

Too much phosphate causes our body to try and use calcium as a substitute for phosphorus. It usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it becomes severe. Not enough phosphate causes muscle weakness in the early stages. As it gets worse, more severe symptoms occur, including breakdown of muscle tissue, which can cause severe kidney damage, seizures, reduced heart function and trouble breathing.

Bicarbonate

Much of the carbon dioxide produced by our bodies gets sent to our lungs to breathe out, but some gets recycled into bicarbonate, which is used to keep our blood pH levels normal.

Too little bicarbonate causes acidosis – causing fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and sometimes confusion. Too much bicarbonate causes alkalosis, where blood becomes too alkaline - the symptoms of which include confusion, apathy, irregular heart rhythms and muscle twitching. ^[2]

We lose all these electrolytes through blood, sweat, and urine, and even more so when we are ill. Replacing those lost electrolytes is a vital step to feeling better.

And this is why considering Electrolyte Gastro^® is a smart choice for adults and children. It’s a balanced and effective solution that contains sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose and trisodium citrate and minerals that restore our body’s natural fluids for treatment of dehydration due to diarrhea, vomiting, a hot or dry environment, and strenuous or prolonged exercise. Available in a convenient single-serving sachet format that makes it easy to keep handy whether at home or on the go and is available to enjoy in two flavours - Orange and Tropical Punch. ^[3]

These products may not be right for you. Please read and follow the label before use for a list of contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse reactions.

Electrolyte Gastro^® is a registered trademark of Norwell Consumer Healthcare Inc.

References

1. National Library of Medicine - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541123/
2. Cleveland Clinic - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes
3. Electrolyte Gastro Box / Label Inserts