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The Truth About Electrolytes and Its Necessity in Our System |
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Sports Nutrition
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Friday, 14 January 2011 00:35 |
Electrolytes are simply substances commonly found in the human body that play a very important role in ensuring the normal operation of our various cells and organs. Turning into ions when immersed in a solution, electrolytes-as you may have figured out from the name-also possess the ability to conduct electricity.
In order to maintain good health and proper functioning of all our body's different systems, it is extremely necessary to ensure that our levels of electrolytes are kept at the proper balance as much as possible. The amount of this substance in our body at any given time is largely responsible for regulating the amount of water that we can hold in our systems, as well as our blood pH and even muscle function.
It would be easy enough to ensure that our electrolyte levels are where they should be at all times if it were not for one simple fact of human biology: electrolytes are typically lost when we sweat during exercise or any other strenuous activity. This means that electrolytes are in danger of being considerably depleted during these activities and that we must take steps to ensure that these are replenished in order to maintain good health and physical condition.
Electrolytes in our body actually take any number of forms. Typically found in the blood, this substance usually exists in the form of various acids as well as bases. Salts are another common form of electrolytes and this particular group may be comprised of any or all of the following commonly found substances in the human body: magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate and chlorine. The levels of these substances in the blood are typically determined through the use of common laboratory procedures.
Sodium is one of the most important forms of electrolytes, which is one of the reasons why it has received a lot of attention in medical and dietary journals in recent years. Responsible for various functions of the brain, nervous systems and muscles maintaining proper sodium levels is a key factor in ensuring our continued good health and well being.
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The Truth About Electrolytes and Its Necessity in Our System
