One of the defining events of the pandemic has been the deliverance of a very important question to the forefront of our collective consciousness: what is essential? As we have ruminated on this question over and over again, new or refined core truths have emerged for many of us, encouraging a shift in focus to what is truly important – which looks different for each of us. Still, it’s fascinating to observe the many cultural trends of this unique era to help us trace some of these perspective shifts: lots of people moved from cities to more rural areas, we became more grateful for the people who facilitate our basic services, we reevaluated (and sometimes majorly redefined) our careers and work-life balance, appreciation for nature skyrocketed, and we made breakthrough revelations when it comes to our health and healing.
During this transformative time, minerals have burst onto the wellness scene, hailed as the current crux of good health, while electrolytes seem to be trending across much wider swaths of the general population. This is fitting because electrolytes are simply essential minerals that are crucial to the body’s optimal functioning, including for hydration, blood pressure regulation, pH balance, muscle activity, and even overall nervous system function. In fact, they’re also essential to the abilities of our hearts to beat, our lungs to breathe, and our brains to learn through the nerve impulses they control. Electrolytes even regulate immune cell signaling and help support robust immunity, including by activating various parts of the immune system into action.
The essential minerals, or electrolytes, are sodium chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. Most of us are deficient in these “electricity carriers,” which manifests as irregular heartbeat, muscle contraction, mental and physical fatigue, frequent urination, brain fog, dysregulated sweating, and feeling dizzy upon standing up, according to Dr. Ben Lynch. That last symptom, feeling dizzy or faint upon standing, is a characteristic of POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and indicates a significantly reduced volume of blood going to the heart after sitting or reclining. From personal experience in dealing with this syndrome, electrolytes are incredibly supportive in its remediation.
Hydration is also absolutely essential to cellular energy production and the capacity of our cells to carry out their many functions, including nerve impulses. Water expert Isabel Friend has shared that drinking water (irrigation) can be vastly different from the amount of water that our bodies actually absorb (hydration). When we drink water stripped of minerals, it can actually be extremely dehydrating over time, which is why electrolytes are so essential for all of us, but especially those of us who have an insatiable thirst that can’t seem to be quenched. Importantly, proper hydration is also essential for strong immune function, with each of the essential minerals taking on different immuno-supportive roles, including lymphocyte production, white blood cell activation, enhanced cytokine communication, and nervous system regulation.
Since most of our water sources are completely stripped of minerals and our soil is so depleted and contaminated, it’s virtually impossible in modern times to mineralize sufficiently through the water we drink and the foods we eat. Furthermore, since our bodies do not produce minerals, this is one of the most important areas to supplement. The cleanest and most well-rounded therapeutic dose of electrolytes I have found is LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/danielleboucher (free sample pack on your first order of any size!) They’re free of sugar and additives - just the essentials. It’s what I use, and I couldn’t more highly recommend them, especially if you experience any of the symptoms listed above. They offer a variety of interesting blends (all featuring the same electrolyte formula), which are so delicious and simple to integrate into your daily regimen. Cheers!