Quickobook
Introduction:
It's the sport's mania for detail that lifts the podium out of averageness. Among the lesser-known variables working behind the scenes to affect performance and recovery is electrolyte balance. As carbohydrates, proteins, and hydration steal the spotlight, the real stars are the electrolytes.
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate play absolutely critical functions in muscle contractions, nerve impulse conduction, and fluid balance. They don't get the "glamor" of macronutrients, but they can affect performance and recovery on a veritable epic scale.
What About High-Level Training?
When a sportsperson trains or plays, the body is subjected to very high amounts of stress. The body loses electrolytes for every drop of sweat, which are normally sodium and potassium. Heredity, climate, and training intensity regulate sweating, and hence there could not be a dosage that suits all. Some sports people lose more than others even in the same conditions.
If this loss is not being replaced or tracked, though, it can result in cramping, dizziness, weakness, and even to hyponatremia, a state where sodium levels fall to extremely low levels. Not exactly the type of performance enhancement anyone would want.
READ ALSO: The Relationship Between Diets With High Sodium And Fluid Retention Within The Eye