Electrolytic drinks have gained the upper hand in the market, and the market of electrolytic drinks is expected to attain growth in the future. If you consume a healthy diet, electrolytic drinks are not a necessity for you.
Electrolyte drinks are preferred by people engaged in heavy exercises like athletics. In summers, it becomes a need to fight against dehydration. The market is full of electrolyte drinks. Choosing an electrolyte drink becomes an important task. You should consider the composition of ingredients, its type, and dose before deciding what electrolyte drink is the best for you. Electrolytes are best for combating hydration.
Electrolytes play a crucial role in important functions of the body. Electrolytes play an essential role in different functions like the functioning of nerve signals & muscles, maintaining the water & pH levels in your body, movement of nutrients, etc.
Electrolytes have a major role in maintaining the proper functioning of our body and its physiological processes. Electrolytes present in our body are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, bicarbonates, and phosphate.
Electrolyte imbalance
Our bodies maintain a particular amount of electrolytes as per their requirements. When the levels of electrolytes are either too high or too low, it can result in electrolyte imbalance. Various cases might result in an imbalance of electrolytes present in your body. The main cause of electrolyte imbalance revolves around the loss of fluids drastically.
A lot of sweating or vomiting can result in loss of body fluids, which eventually will lead to a disturbing level of electrolytes. Sometimes, burns too can cause a considerable amount of loss of body fluids. The common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance are altered blood pressure, fainting, irregular breathing & urination, thirst, and tiredness.
Without any further delay, let us talk about the 10 best electrolyte drinks that will help you to rejuvenate.
1. Green Tea
If you are searching for a healthy alternative to commercial electrolyte drinks, green tea is one of the best options. The commercial electrolytes meant for sportspeople are beneficial for providing the electrolytes that are lost from the body, but it also contains added sugars and chemicals for flavours & longevity.
A cup of coffee (approximately 250 grams) provides a total of 20 mg (of potassium) and 2.5 mg of sodium. This electrolyte drink is specifically good for people following a keto diet.
2. Electrolyte tablet water
This is an efficient, easy, handy, and cheap way to combat the loss of electrolytes from your body. You can easily get an electrolyte drink by infusing the electrolyte tablets. These electrolyte tablets are a rich source of essential electrolytes required by our body, like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
The amounts of electrolytes present in any tablet will vary with the brand of electrolyte tablets you choose. One benefit of using electrolyte tablets is that they are devoid of calories or added sugars. The frequency of consumption of the electrolyte tablets should be monitored.
3. Smoothies
Smoothies offer a delicious alternative to boring electrolyte drinks. Smoothies are one of the best alternatives to manufactured electrolyte drinks. Picking the best fruits that are rich in electrolytes can be used as a combination to prepare smoothies. Fruits, legumes, dairy products, and nuts are some of the best sources of high electrolyte content.
Apart from being a tastier alternative, smoothies can be easily digested. Artificial electrolyte drinks generally are loaded with refined sugars and artificial substances like flavouring agents and stabilisers. Hence, smoothies can be a healthier option to replenish the lost electrolytes in your body. Because fruits contain all the nutrients and minerals, apart from electrolytes, they can be used as efficient electrolyte drinks.
4. Gatorade drink sportspeople
Gatorades are the reservoir of electrolytes that can be used to recover from electrolyte loss. This electrolyte drink, along with hydrating your body, will also help in the replenishment of important electrolytes. This electrolyte drink also contains carbohydrate content to serve the energy requirements. The carbohydrate source for the drink is dextrose and sucrose.
These artificial electrolyte drinks are only recommended for people that are involved in rigorous sports or exercise. Normally, people who are not involved in any rigorous physical activity get their electrolytes naturally, and water is the best option for hydrating their bodies.
5. Powerade
Powerade is an electrolyte drink meant for sportspeople that aim to manage the balance of nutrients and electrolytes lost from the body. It is a good source of nutrients as well as electrolytes, while it lacks any protein or fat. The electrolytes supplied by this electrolyte drink are sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Powerade is present in a huge variety; you can choose the option best suited for you based on flavours and calorie content.
One of the varieties of Powerade is a zero-calorie drink, so you can easily replace the lost electrolytes without adding on extra calories. Again, you have to keep a check on your consumption of Powerade, as it may cause a rise in electrolyte levels (like sodium) and cause troubles like damage to the kidney and heart-related medical conditions.
6. Pickle Juice
Pickle juice, a liquid filled with an ample amount of electrolytes, can be a good option as an electrolyte drink. Pickle juice can be used as a natural electrolyte drink. This drink is rich in various electrolytes like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Because it is a good source of different electrolytes, it can help combat dehydration the body and replenishment electrolytes in the body.
Pickle juice may be beneficial for dehydration and regulating the electrolytes in the body, but its intake of it should be monitored. It is rich in sodium content; hence higher consumption may lead to troubles. People with high blood pressure should specifically be cautious of their intake of pickle juice as an electrolyte drink.
7. Milk from plant sources
Milk obtained from plants provides us with a great variety. Plant-based milk is majorly consumed by people who are lactose intolerant or if they follow a vegan diet. But they can also be a good source of electrolytes. If we consider potassium, pea milk contains the highest amount of electrolytes among the other alternatives. Some of the other types of plant-based milk are soy milk and oat milk.
Almond milk can be another alternative if you are in search of electrolyte drinks, as it is a rich source of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Another example of electrolyte drinks in the domain of plant-based milk is milk extracted from hemp seeds. It is rich in a variety of electrolytes such as Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and sulfur.
8. Coconut water
Coconut water is a readily available natural drink that can replace the common electrolyte drinks. It is a natural drink that is rich in electrolytes, vitamins, and some important minerals. This electrolyte drink is known as nature’s Gatorade. Artificial Gatorade contains added flavours and colours, which means added chemicals.
Hence, coconut water as a replacement for Gatorade is preferable if you want a natural and beneficial drink. It is rich in electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and manganese. It lacks any added colours & flavours and has natural flavours. It is devoid of calories and sugar. It contains good amounts of potassium while it is lower in sodium content. It can be a great option for dehydration.
9. Electrolyte-infused water
Electrolyte-infused water is added with a variety of electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium. These electrolyte drinks, again, are low sugar, low-calorie drinks. The nutrient or electrolyte content may vary with specific brands. If you are an athlete or are involved in heavy exercises, these electrolyte-infused electrolyte drinks are the best options for maintaining the optimum levels of electrolytes in your body. You can choose the best electrolyte-infused water from different varieties available in grocery stores.
Nutritionists also suggest purchasing electrolyte tablets and consuming them after mixing with water. You are advised to always check the labels for confirming ingredients like added sugars if you are looking for an alternative for high-calorie or high-sugar electrolyte drinks. Some examples of electrolyte-infused water are propelled Pedialyte and Nuun.
10. Fruit juices as electrolyte drinks
Fruit juices are an essential source of nutrients. The major electrolytes found in fruit juices are magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. Some good fruit juices that are rich in electrolytes are cherry, orange, and watermelon juices. Lemon water added with electrolytes can also be a good option for fulfilling the electrolyte demands of the body.
Fruit juices are generally also rich in sugar content. A solution for higher sugar content in fruit juices is using it after diluting it. Another advantage rendered by fruit juices is that they are also rich in antioxidants and several vitamins. If you are considering an option of electrolyte drinks post sweating, fruit juices are not an ideal option.
Wrapping It Up
Electrolytes are essential for the functioning of our bodies. Generally, these are the minerals carrying a specific charge that is responsible for some vital functions of the body. An imbalance in electrolytes results in disruption in the normal functioning of the body; hence it becomes an important responsibility to maintain electrolyte levels.