We like to assert our humanity by saying to people that we're not robots. But our bodies share a fundamental necessity with our man-made counterparts.
We rely on ELECTRICITY. Our bodies, in their organic complexity, operate on electrical IMPULSES, just like your favorite coffee maker.
There is no pure water in the body whatsoever, primarily because pure water does not CONDUCT electricity.
Electricity in the body charges nervous impulses, muscles, and even regulates PH levels. Electricity runs everything.
So what allows our water to conduct electricity?
Electrolytes are minerals that carry electric charge, found in all liquid in your body. Their balance is VITAL to keeping everything functioning as it should.
Your brain sends electricity through liquid electrolyte solutions in and around nerve cells, which send signals to cells throughout your whole body.
Low on electrolytes? Thinking and moving will become more challenging, as bodily processes that rely on electricity slow down.
A lack of electrolytes comes with feeling dizziness, weak, and cramps, and ongoing problems with your muscles, mind, and energy.
Here's a quick breakdown of dietarily essential electrolytes in your body and why they're important:
Think of sodium as the conductor of the electrical signals that keep your body in rhythm. From fluid balance to nerve transmission and muscle contractions, sodium is at the heart of many vital processes.
Potassium is crucial for heart health, muscle function, and nerve signaling. It works closely with sodium to maintain cellular integrity and fluid balance.
Beyond its role in bone health, calcium is essential for muscle function, nerve signaling, and blood clotting.
Magnesium is also involved in hundreds of reactions in the body. It supports muscle and nerve function, energy optimisation, and the synthesis of proteins.
Paired often with sodium, chloride helps keep fluid balances in check and plays a role in digestion, as a component of stomach acid.
If you lose a lot of water, through exercise and hot weather, all of these healthy minerals matter a lot more. This is ESPECIALLY important if you're following a keto diet.
On a keto diet, you lose electrolytes faster, ESPECIALLY when starting out.
Carbs breakdown to glucose, which is stored in the body as glycogen. Glycogen stores water. Water stores ELECTROLYTES.
So although flushing out excess sugar and optimising your fat burning is a beautiful thing, take care as you will flush out MORE ELECTROLYTES.
Ironically, mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, require electrolytes to drive metabolism.
And because a keto diet is likely to INCREASE your metabolism, you need to replace MORE THAN the electrolytes you LOSE to feel the full benefits of keto.
Here's a simple, clean, healthy, and keto friendly to get what you need:
Although most people consume enough sodium and chloride in food, consider adding more if you are on a keto diet, very active, in a hot place, or losing more water than normal.
Be careful here. RDA for sodium and chloride in adults is generally considered to be around 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day.
Himalayan salt is often considered the healthiest choice. Supplements from a trusted provider are a good way to go.
Potassium is essential and must come from food. RDA for potassium in adults is around 2,600mg to 3,400mg per day.
You can achieve that in a keto friendly way with:
Calcium is crucial for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. RDA for calcium in adults is around 1,000mg per day.
You can achieve that in a keto friendly way with:
Magnesium is involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions in the body. RDA for magnesium is 400mg in men and 300mg in women.
You can achieve that in a keto friendly way with:
Men could add:
We hope that's a good starting point. Feel free to get creative, and Contact Us with any questions or comments whatsoever.
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