In school, when we learned about the essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, and vitamins, there was another section, and that was minerals. We also get to know that our body consumes minerals through the food we are having and the fluid we are drinking.
You might not know they are also called electrolytes. Whenever we get dehydrated, we drink a particular solution in order to get back the liquid and minerals we lose. It can be a drink or can be found in the form of power that we need to mix with water and drink.
The drink is an electrolyte supplements drink. It helps to stay hydrated. Here in this article, we will provide you with a brief understanding of electrolytes along with their different types.
What Are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are some particular substances that have a natural negative or positive charge only when they dissolve in water. We all are aware of the fact that the human body is made of 60% water, and water is a crucial part of our human body.
It means, almost every cell of your body consists of electrolytes, and it also helps in regulating chemical reactions. Whether it is regulating the body temperatures or flushing out toxins in the body, water is responsible for doing that.
From whatever you are eating or drinking, your body is getting the required electrolytes. After filtration, your kidney flushes out the excess amount of electrolytes from your body through urine. When you are sweating, you are also losing electrolytes.
What Are The Types Of Electrolytes
In order to maintain the normal electrolyte levels in your body, you have to ensure that all the types of or key elements of electrolytes are present in the proper amount. In the following section, we are going to talk about the different types of electrolyte components. These electrolytes can be maintained through a proper diet or electrolyte hydration drinks.
Type 1: Sodium
Your cells need to maintain the right balance of fluid, and sodium plays an important role in helping them. At the same time, it is also the components that help cells to absorb nutrients. It is the most abandoned electrolyte-positive ion that is found in the body.
Hyponatremia is the condition when your body does not have enough sodium, and it comes with a number of symptoms, like;
- Nausea.
- Weekended reflexes.
- Vomiting.
- Irritability.
- Confusion.
- Seizures.
- Coma.
On the other hand, Hypernatremia is the condition when your body has too much sodium. This particular condition can cause the following.
- Behavior changes.
- Confusion.
- Loss of muscle control.
- Strong reflexes.
- Seizures.
- Coma.
Type 2: Magnesium
In order to turn nutrients into energy, your cells require magnesium. On the other hand, your muscles and brain also heavily rely on magnesium for doing their job.
Hypermagnesemia in the presence of too much magnesium in the body, which comes with the following health issues.
- Weakened reflexes.
- Arrhythmias.
- Heart rhythm changes.
- Decreased ability to breathe.
- Cardiac arrest.
Hypomagnesemia is the condition where your body lacks the minimum level of magnesium. In this health condition, you will get to see the following symptoms.
- Twitching and loss of control.
- Muscle weakness.
- Heart arrhythmias.
Type 3: Potassium
Along with sodium, your cells also use potassium. Whenever a sodium ion enters a cell, the potassium ion leaves, and the process goes vice-versa as well. Potassium is also really crucial for your heart to function properly. Too little or too much potassium can cause heart problems.
Hyperkalemia is the presence of too much potassium, which comes with;
- Irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmias.
- Weakness.
- Confusion.
- Inability to move a muscle.
Hypokalemia is the lack of potassium, which comes with the followings;
- Dizziness.
- Passing out when standing up too quickly.
- Needing to pee frequently.
- Feeling unusually thirsty.
- Muscle weakness and cramps.
- Muscle tissues start to break down in severe cases.
- Heart arrhythmias.
Type 4: Calcium
Apart from building bones and teeth, calcium does a lot more. Calcium is also used by your system for controlling muscles, managing your heart rhythm, transmitting signals in your nerves, and a lot more.
Hypercalcemia is the condition of too much calcium, where you can witness
- Constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- Apathy, fatigue, headache, and confusion.
- Kidney stones, frequent need to pee, and kidney failure.
- Pain in joints and bones.
- Arrhythmias.
Hypocalcemia is not having enough calcium levels. That causes the following.
- Behavior changes.
- Confusions.
- Loss of muscle control.
- Strong reflexes.
- Spasms in the throat muscle make it hard to breathe or speak.