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 when you follow a low-carb diet - reduced carb intake means no processed foods, which make up 70% of our dietary sodium intake. When you cut these out of the equation, you are likely not getting enough sodium. To add insult to injury, your kidneys excrete even more sodium when your carb intake is low. This is why those with a low-carb lifestyle often complain of unpleasant symptoms like headaches, muscle cramps, and fatigue. For optimal performance, we need to pay attention to electrolyte and mineral intake - and our needs increase even more when we sweat or follow a low-carb diet.