How to Replenish Electrolytes
Step-by-step Instructions
Here is what you need to do...
Step 1
If you ever experience intense muscle cramps, a loss of energy, and a woozy feeling during working out, chances are your electrolytes are in need of some replenishing. Electrolytes are essential nutrients that deal with your body's level of hydration and your ability to sustain contractions over long periods of time (i.e. efficiently workout). Replenishing your electrolytes comes down to eating the right kinds of foods
Step 2
Bananas- Bananas are high in potassium, which helps contribute to an increase in electrolytes. Eating at least one banana a day will massively help with decreasing muscle cramps and increasing the amount of energy you have available during and after a workout. Bananas are also delicious, which is always a plus.
Step 3
Salt- That's right, using a little bit extra salt can be a surefire way to increase electrolytes. The best way to do it is to fill up a water bottle (such as the one I've linked below) with normal water, and then add a small pinch of salt. The added salt will help with water retention, giving your body an increased amount of energy and a reduced risk of muscle cramps.
Step 4
Milk and Yogurt- Milk and yogurt have a lot of calcium, and when they're ingested they increase your body's ability to sustain usable levels of electrolytes. Milk and yogurt are also delicious, so as long as you aren't lactose intolerant you should really enjoy being able to consume them daily.
Step 5
Seeds and Nuts- Pumpkin seeds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts (even peanut butter) are all great sources of magnesium, which highly adds to your ability to retain and use electrolytes.
Step 6
Sports drinks- Gatorade, Powerade, and other sports drinks are great for an immediate boost of electrolytes. If you experience fatigue and wooziness at the gym more often than not, be sure to bring a sports drink with you to consume throughout your workout. These drinks, being high in sodium, provide your body with a surge of electrolytes, preventing all of the negative effects mentioned in paragraph 1.
Step 7
Altogether, these different aspects of the diet represent a surefire way to prevent yourself from experiencing tiredness, muscle cramps, or wooziness on account of a loss of electrolytes. The foods and drinks listed above are also generally very tasty, and they can up your enjoyment of diet through being ingested. That, in my book and probably everybody else's, is definitely a win-win.
Special Attention
Difficulties people often experience or parts that need special attention to do it right.
The hardest part about replenishing your electrolytes is just figuring out how to do it. Now that you know how, replenishing your electrolytes should be no problem at all. Just stick to the advice above and you'll be as good as gold in the days and years to come.
Stuff You'll Need
| Brand | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CamelBak eddy .75L Water Bottl | No Price |
Suggested Further Reading
| Author | Title | Price |
|---|---|---|
| RopeSport: The Ultimate Jump Rope Workout | No Price |
This Student Author
This Student Author's Background
Funny or interesting story about this topic...
This story isn't funny or interesting: on the contrary, it's quite unnerving. There was a client of mine who, no matter what I did to recommend a better diet, refused to drink water or consume healthy foods. He did like to lift weights and do cardio, but he couldn't manage the diet portion of health and fitness. He would only drink coca-cola and root beer throughout the day, and he rarely ate foods that contributed to his electrolyte balance. He started encountering mega-bad cramps during every single workout, and one day he actually passed out during out training session. The session wasn't even intense- it was quite normal. His levels of electrolytes were so low, though, that he couldn't sustain any serious amount of physical activity. That, to me, was an absolutely bonafide representation of the utmost negative effects of a lack of electrolytes. Take that as a warning, people. Get your electrolytes if you plan to workout, and for the sake of general health PLEASE drink some water...
When did you first do this & how did you get started?
I learned how to replenish my electrolytes early on in my fitness days. My dad educated me on all the right things to eat and drink in order to stay as healthy and functional as possible in the gym. Now, I've taken all the advice I know and passed it on to you. Don't let me down out there.
Happy lifting,
J