I love to say, “I’m solar-powered”. I LOVE the sun. I love to be outside, even when it’s incredibly hot and humid.
Maintaining electrolyte balance can be extremely challenging during Austin summers. (And apparently during Springtime, too!)
“Electrolyte” is the umbrella term for essential minerals that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes are found in our blood, urine, and sweat and are absolutely vital for hydration, pH balance, nerve signaling, and muscle contractions (and your HEART IS A MUSCLE, so that makes electrolytes kind of a big deal).
THE 5 MOST COMMON ELECTROLYTES:
- sodium
- potassium
- calcium
- magnesium
- chloride
Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the primary electrolytes lost during exercise. No one knows for sure what causes exercise-induced muscle cramps, but recent research points toward BOTH a sodium deficit and muscle overload and fatigue.
In the United States, most standard tap water contains about 2–3% of your daily needs for certain electrolytes, such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium. So if you need to replace electrolytes when it's 105 degrees, water ain't gonna get it done! You probably want to grab a sports drink or add electrolyte tablets to your water bottle.
FUELING UP AFTER EXERCISING OUTSIDE?
Good food sources for replacing sodium, potassium, and chloride include:
- Sodium: Pickled foods, pickles, cheese, and table salt.
- Potassium: Coconut water, avocado, sweet potatoes, spinach, watermelon, beans, edamame, Swiss chard, and beets.
- Chloride: celery, tomatoes, lettuce, seaweeds, and of course, good ol’ table salt.
Tomato slices with salt? Yes, please!
