Whoever is doing the public relations for electrolytes deserves a raise.<\/p>\n
These supplements, once the preserve of Ironman triathletes and ultramarathon runners looking to sustain performance across hours of draining effort, have gone increasingly mainstream.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Beyond hydration, electrolytes are now being celebrated for boosting productivity, improving clarity and focus, reducing fatigue and headaches, even beautifying skin and hair.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Water, it seems, just doesn\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n Drawn into the hype, and feeling generally run down in recent weeks, I decided to see if I could benefit from this trend.<\/p>\n I also grilled two nutritionists on the best ways to stay hydrated to understand if taking a daily electrolyte formula would boost my physical and mental acumen.<\/p>\n Below are four things I learned. But first, a quick explainer.<\/p>\n What are electrolytes? <\/p>\n Electrolytes are minerals that have a natural electric charge when dissolved in water.<\/p>\n These minerals are essential for many bodily functions, including regulating water balance, maintaining heart rhythm and blood pressure, and supporting nerve and muscle function.<\/p>\n Electrolyte supplements typically include sodium, magnesium and potassium, but can also include calcium, chloride and phosphate.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n My experienceI enjoyed the routine<\/p>\n For my test, I started with a daily lemon-flavored electrolyte supplement called Hydrate+ from DR.VEGAN<\/a>, containing sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium\u2014plus vitamin B12, vitamin C and amino acid L-taurine.<\/p>\n Then halfway through the month I switched to an assortment of elderberry, Himalayan lime and lychee-flavored electrolytes from Humantra<\/a>, containing all six electrolytes, plus zinc, chromium, vitamin C and B12.<\/p>\n I would mix each formula with around 500ml of water and glug it down before breakfast or, on especially virtuous days, before a quick home workout.<\/p>\n This soon became my morning ritual, providing a semblance of consistency to my week and helping me feel like I was starting my day on a positive footing.<\/p>\n But, I must admit, it was hard to tell if the extra minerals were boosting my productivity in said workout or once I got my feet under my desk.<\/p>\n I put this last point to Ella Kaur Maan<\/a>, registered nutritionist and practitioner lead at DR.VEGAN. \u201cEven if you don\u2019t feel a dramatic difference straight away, that doesn\u2019t mean electrolytes aren\u2019t working,\u201d she tells me.<\/p>\n \u201cThey support the balance of fluids inside and outside your cells, which is vital for ongoing hydration. Proper cellular hydration takes time\u2014especially if you were mildly dehydrated before starting\u2014so improvements can sometimes be gradual rather than immediate.\u201d<\/p>\n I rarely felt thirsty<\/p>\n While any changes might be subtle, I rarely felt parched during the month-long test.<\/p>\n This was partly because taking a daily supplement ensured I consumed at least a quarter of the 2 liters of fluid per day as recommended by the NHS<\/a> (the FDA and WHO don’t issue a specific daily water intake target).<\/p>\n Yet, simply drinking more water doesn’t always guarantee adequate hydration.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are active, sweat a lot, drink caffeine or alcohol, or don\u2019t hydrate enough throughout the day, you may benefit from an electrolyte formula,\u201d says Humantra nutritionist Claissa Lenherr<\/a>.<\/p>\n Practicing intermittent fasting, or following a low-carb or ketogenic diet can also increase your need.<\/p>\n Lenherr urges me to think of electrolytes as a \u201chydration enhancer\u201d rather than a quick fix. \u201cThey help your body actually absorb and use the water you\u2019re drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n