What Role Do Electrolytes Play in Athletics?

Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within the body. They help to regulate myocardial and neurological function, fluid balance, oxygen delivery, acid-base balance and much more.

Magnesium: Essential for muscle relaxation, which helps to prevent cramping; helps support cardiovascular function; plays a key role in the production of energy; helps to conduct nerve impulses throughout the body to prevent feeling fatigue.

Potassium: Essential for muscle contraction to increase muscle endurance; also helps to prevent muscle cramps; is an essential electrolyte to maintain water and acid-base balance in cells; also helps to support cardiovascular function; conducts electrical impulses in the nerves.

Sodium: Essential for muscle contraction and helps to increase muscle endurance; also helps preserve acid-base balance in cells; plays an important role in responding to thirst.

Chloride: a forgotten electrolyte in many sports drinks; helps in the efficient exchange of oxygen in the cells; is the most abundant electrolyte outside of the cell; helps in preserving a healthy pH balance.

Whether you’re a serious athlete or recreational exerciser, it’s important to make sure you get the proper amount of hydration before, during and after exercising. Proper hydration regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints and helps transport nutrients for energy and health. If you are not properly hydrated, your body will be unable to perform at it’s highest level, and you may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness or more serious symptoms.

A Look at Different Types of Protein Powder

Among the most popular types of sports nutritional supplements are the various kinds of protein powder. Finding the ideal protein powder for your purposes isn’t always a simple task. There are many factors to consider -plant vs. animal protein, price, flavor, reputation of the brand, etc. Finding the right protein powder is easier when you’re familiar with some of the most important criteria.

As different kinds of protein will have individual effects, you will be best suited to find a supplement that will have multiple effects. This will allow you peace of mind, in that you will be sufficiently adding the necessary proteins all in one supplement.

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Do Energy Drinks Really Do What They Claim Or Is It All Hype?

When it comes to energy drinks, there is a ton of inconsistent information. One explanation for this is because there are hundreds of brands that put generic names to use for their merchandise. Any Joe Blow can name a brew an “energy drink”, however this can mean just about anything. This means you have to suspiciously take a look at every product and find out what its ingredients are. To help you find your way around the energy drinks of today’s marketplace, we’ll be providing some useful ways to separate reality from hype.

One explanation that a number of people today drink excessive amounts of energy drinks is that they do not get enough sleep. Not a single product, not even coffee, energy drinks, or vitamins, can act as a proxy for sleep deprivation. It’s one thing to have an energy drink irregularly to provide you with an extra bit of attentiveness when you need it, yet it’s something else if you put these drinks to use as a stand-in for sleep.

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