Key Highlights
- But experts say many of the claims about the health benefits of these drinks need to be taken with a grain of salt. Electrolytes are electrically charged substances that help regulate chemical reactions in the body.
- In the context of hydration, they balance fluid levels inside and outside of cells, said Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic.
- We lose some electrolytes through sweat, primarily sodium chloride — which is what is in table salt.
- Drinking too much plain water when sweating very heavily can dilute the salt in your body even further, throwing things out of balance.
- Electrolyte drinks and powders are meant to hydrate and replace the lost salt.
