Tag: electrolytes

4 Benefits of Electrolytes

As a coach and kinesiologist, I often emphasize the importance of proper hydration and nutrition for optimal performance. One essential aspect of this is ensuring adequate electrolyte intake. Electrolytes—including sodium chloride, magnesium, and potassium—are minerals with an electrical charge that play a crucial role in our overall health. Here’s how they can benefit you:

Hydration:

Sodium plays a vital role in hydration—where sodium goes, water follows. Many people focus solely on drinking plain water but neglect electrolytes, which are essential for retaining hydration and maintaining balanced cell function. If you’re drinking plenty of water but still experiencing headaches or fatigue, it might be time to incorporate electrolytes into your routine. I also suggest aiming for 3-4L of water per day to ensure you’re staying properly hydrated.

On my coaching site, Train It Right, I often recommend personalized hydration strategies to help clients stay energized and perform at their best. By adding the right electrolytes to your plan, we can ensure your body functions optimally.

Stress Management:

Stress can wreak havoc on your body, and electrolytes, especially magnesium, are key to managing its effects. Known as the “anti-stress mineral,” magnesium helps regulate the body’s stress response. For my clients navigating high-stress periods, I often incorporate magnesium-rich foods and supplements to support their overall well-being.

Headache & Brain Fog Relief:

Headaches and brain fog can often be linked to an electrolyte imbalance. Magnesium and potassium are particularly helpful for addressing these issues. Through my coaching programs, I provide tailored recommendations to ensure you’re meeting your electrolyte needs, improving both mental clarity and physical performance.

Bloat Support:

Bloating can be frustrating, especially when it’s tied to hormonal shifts. Electrolytes can help by reducing water retention. I recommend options with lower sodium for those experiencing bloating during specific phases of their cycle. Together, we can create a plan that keeps you feeling light and confident.

Let’s Optimize Your Nutrition

Electrolytes are a vital part of achieving your fitness and health goals. If you’re ready to take your performance to the next level, let’s work together to customize a plan that meets your unique needs. Visit Train It Right to learn more about my coaching services and how I can help you train smarter, not harder.

How To Handle DOMS - Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

1. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your workout. Make sure to drink electrolytes or BCAA's during your workout. The essential salts will help regulate muscular contractions and nerve function as well as give you energy throughout your workout.

2.Espesso or coffee before your workout will increase muscle strength and endurance as well as help to reduce the chance of soreness.

3. Make sure to do a proper warm up and cool down. This will help clear out lactic acid, regulate the heart and help with blood flow.

4. Eat a post workout meal or snack that contains a ration of 4:1 carbs to protein. This will help restore muscle nutrients lost in the muscle during the workout. Chocolate milk is actually a great post workout options.

5. Massage, stretching, foam rolling, and trigger point release post workout also helps to increase circulation, help with tight muscles and reduce muscle tension like knots etc.

6. Take a cold shower post workout. This will help reduce inflammation to the muscles.

7. If you can't handle the cold shower a hot bath with epsom salts will also help blood circulation and inflammation of the muscles.

8. Proper rest. if you are training hard it is recommended that you get a minimum of 60-70hrs of sleep a week. This includes naps. Sleep is when your body recovers and rebuilds muscle. If you are training hard and often the more sleep you need to help those muscles.

Thank you to the folks over at BODYARMOR for providing me and my athletes with some cases of their product a few months back. Its delicious! If you are looking for a drink that has electrolytes, vitamins, coconut water, and is low in sodium gibe this stuff a go It has Vitamins A, C and E in it.

It is also used by top athletes like Andrew Luck, Rob Gronkowski, LeSean McCoy, James Harden, Mike Trout and Buster Posey. For additional Information check out their website.