What are Electrolytes?

Potassium is the main intracellular mineral, intracellular meaning found inside cells. It is concentrated at 30 times greater within cells than it is found outside cells. Its main function is water balance, nerve impulse transmission and muscular contractions. It also has the ability to regulate the sodium levels within the body which is important to maintaining it’s balance.

Sodium is an essential mineral commonly referred to as salt (Sodium Chloride). It has a critical role as it helps muscles to fire and the brain to work effectively. Sodium is the major extracellular mineral and is involved in body-water balance and acid-base balance. It is found mainly outside cell walls and helps to regulate fluid flow around the body. It also helps maintain blood volume which is an important factor in athletic performance, as it is related to the ability to deliver nutrients to cells, the removal of metabolic by-products from cells, and to help control the rate of sweat in an athlete. Sodium is a key ingredient in sports drinks not only for its essential role in the body but also because it promotes the desire to drink.

Magnesium is responsible for maintaining the electrical potential in nerve and muscle cells. Magnesium is essential for the body’s metabolism and is present in most foods. Involved in more than 300 reactions including which food is synthesized to new products, it also is a critical component in the processes that create muscular energy from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.