Why Should You Replace Lost Salts When Sick?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you replace lost salts when suffering from an illness? Sometimes, it can be challenging to discern if electrolyte replacement can cause a huge difference in the level of discomfort or pain when sick. Typically, the body loses essential minerals through dehydration.

If certain vital ions such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, and chloride are improperly balanced, it can affect your rehydration ability after suffering dehydration.  Even when not ill, it’s crucial to drink plenty of water after undergoing surgery or getting an injury. Water helps the blood carry nutrients through the entire body hence plays a vital role in recovery.

How Crucial Is Electrolyte Replacement?

The body is full of ions. These minerals in tissues and blood play a vital role in keeping water levels balanced. They also aid in getting rid of waste products, help the nerves send signals to the brain, enable muscle contraction and relaxation, and a lot more.

These minerals usually come from foods or drinks and are kept balanced by the coordination of the liver and kidney. The level of the minerals in the blood is often kept within a tight range. If a deviation occurs, either to the upper or lower side, you can develop serious complications.

Everyone naturally loses ions and water through sweating, urinating, taking a dump, and breathing. That’s why it’s essential to keep them replenished regularly with mineral-rich diets. Certain situations or activities like vomiting or heavy workout can increase quantities of lytes you lose and may require you to replace lost salts with electrolyte drinks. 

Worse foods & drinks to Replace Lost Salts During Illness

When suffering from flu or any other viral disease, the symptoms from those illnesses such as fever, diarrhea, coughing, appetite loss, and vomiting can cause dehydration. When you do an electrolyte replacement, improved cell activities will occur to aid in quicker recovery.

We all know the foods rich in minerals that we should take to stay healthy. These include spinach, peanuts, coconut water, milk, watermelon juice, and prescribed electrolyte tablets and solutions. But what should you avoid to prevent your body from losing the minerals further when sick?

Sugar Rich Drinks

Even though sports drinks and juices seem like excellent choices when feeling ill, they aren’t the best that your body needs. Due to their high sugar levels, they’re more likely to induce stomach problems and cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. That can only worsen the situation by causing more water and lytes loss. 

Processed and Fast Foods

Typically, fast foods from restaurants contain too much sodium than your system needs. Although sodium is an essential mineral salt for the body, too much of it can cause health issues, especially if you have kidney problems.

High sodium in the blood, a condition called Hypernatremia, will cause fluids movement from the cells. When that happens to the brain cells, you can experience headaches, personality changes, and lethargy.

Summary

The best and quickest way to recover from illnesses is to replace lost salts. Develop a habit of eating foods rich in electrolytes to ensure you maintain the balance, which plays a vital role in quick recovery.