What are Electrolytes?
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance Explained
Everyone knows sweat is salty -
but why?
When we lose bodily fluids by sweating, it is common knowledge that we need to replenish fluids by drinking water, but we also need to replenish the lost minerals and salts, which are known as “electrolytes.” You may have heard the term before, especially in relation to isotonic or sports drinks.
But what exactly are electrolytes, and what do they do for our bodies?
Electrolytes are minerals and salts that are dissolved into body fluids, such as sweat, blood, tears, and urine, that naturally carry either positive or negative electric charges. They are essential for many bodily functions, such as:
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Balancing water levels in your body
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Balancing your body’s (acidity/alkalinity) pH level
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Regulating muscle contractions
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Central nervous system function
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Transporting nutrients and waste in and out of cells
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Keeping heart rate steady and consistent, and maintaining stable blood pressure
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Keeping teeth and bones strong and healthy
Electrolyte Imbalances
An electrolyte imbalance occurs when the level of one or more types of electrolytes is too high or
too low. The main cause of electrolyte imbalance is changes in fluid levels in your body, so it is
important to take in the same amount of water that you lose through sweating and other bodily
processes each day.
Try not to be dehydrated or overhydrated–balance is key.
Aside from fluid intake, other potential causes of electrolyte imbalance are:
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Heavy sweating (i.e. when doing prolonged or intense exercise)
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Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
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Certain medicines, or taking too many mineral supplements
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Problems in the heart, liver, or kidney
Since electrolytes are vital to many body functions, there are a variety of symptoms associated with an electrolyte imbalance, including:
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Fatigue
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Low energy
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Nausea
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Headache
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Muscle cramps
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Blood pressure changes
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General malaise
How to Keep Our Electrolytes Balanced? Sources of Electrolytes
For most people, keeping hydrated and eating nutritious meals is enough to maintain a good electrolyte balance. For those who lose a lot of fluid in a short time, such as athletes or those who sweat a lot, good options to replenish electrolytes are isotonic drinks such as Pocari Sweat.
Which comprises a similar concentration of minerals essential to our well-being, and Pocari Sweat’s Ion Water, which is a low-sugar option, providing all the benefits of mineral replenishment with fewer downsides when compared with other sugar-loaded isotonic drinks.
In Conclusion
It is important to stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet for our bodies to maintain proper function. In particular, if you lose a lot of fluid, it is important to replace not only the water but also the electrolytes lost in the process.
Resources:
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Berman, Jacob, M.S., M.P.H. (2025, November 19). Electrolytes. MedlinePlus.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002350.htm -
Beswick, Kyle. (2019, October 16). What are Electrolytes? Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-
sinai.org/blog/electrolytes.html -
Cleveland Clinic. (2021, September 24). Electrolytes.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes -
Maughan, R. J., & Shirreffs, S. M. (1997). Recovery from prolonged exercise: restoration of water and electrolyte balance. Journal of sports sciences, 15(3), 297–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404197367308
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Medline Plus. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance. NIH: National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html