Proper hydration is critical for optimizing mental and physical performance.
Hydration is not just about drinking enough water - to stay properly hydrated you need to consume adequate electrolytes. They help your nerve impulses fire, regulate fluid balance, help produce energy, and support strong bones.
Proper hydration is critical for optimizing mental and physical performance.
Hydration is not just about drinking enough water - to stay properly hydrated you need to consume adequate electrolytes. They help your nerve impulses fire, regulate fluid balance, help produce energy, and support strong bones.
One article in the Journal of Sport Science reported:
“Vigorous exercise and warm/hot weather induce sweat production, which contains both water and electrolytes. Daily water (4-10 L) and sodium (3500-7000 mg) losses in active athletes during hot weather exposure can induce water and electrolyte deficits…”
When you’re physically active and sweat, replacing lost sodium is essential to feel and perform your best. But many athletes forget about sodium and drink more water when they feel dehydrated - the more common problem for these folks is drinking too much water, not too little. Overwatering dilutes blood sodium levels, causing a dangerous condition called hyponatremia - which can lead to headaches, muscle cramps, and fatigue.
This deficiency increases even more if you are fasting - when carb intake is low, the kidneys excrete more sodium. In fact, no other dietary strategy out there lowers insulin more than fasting - it’s awful for retaining sodium. This is why those who fast often complain of unpleasant symptoms similar to hyponatremia. For optimal performance, we need to pay attention to electrolyte and mineral intake - and our needs increase even more when we sweat or fast.
Electrolytes can mean the difference between feeling like a champ and feeling like garbage.Robb Wolf, Co-Founder of LMNT
When I’m training for hours at the gym every day - and periodically fasting - I know I need extra electrolytes to be able to reach my optimal performance. Without proper hydration, I am susceptible to sodium deficiency and the unpleasant symptoms that come with it.
When I’m training for hours at the gym every day - and periodically fasting - I know I need extra electrolytes to be able to reach my optimal performance. Without proper hydration, I am susceptible to sodium deficiency and the unpleasant symptoms that come with it.
As a low-carb athlete I like to know what I’m putting into my body when I’m hydrating, so I avoid typical sports drinks that are loaded with too many ingredients, especially sugar. For extra electrolytes I drink LMNT Recharge - it got rid of the cramps and lightheadedness that used to follow my tough workouts. The best part is it’s zero-sugar so it doesn’t break a fast - and I even use it to keep my energy high while I’m training and fasting at the same time. During tough training sessions, I can go extra hard knowing that I’m replacing vital electrolytes without putting any junk into my body. As an early riser, I love to drink 1 packet in the morning to set the tone for a successful day and also put 1-2 packets into my water 30 minutes before each training session.
LMNT Recharge was developed by Robb Wolf and his Ketogains coaches to provide a zero-sugar, tasty electrolyte drink for those on heavy training or fasting regimens.