As hard as it may be to believe, our bodies won’t function optimally without little electrical charges. These charges constantly go around the body and contribute to some essential body activities such as nerve function, muscle contraction, and hydration.
What Are Electrolytes and Why Are They So Essential?
Electrolytes are minerals that provide electrical charges in the body. Our body needs a specific range of electrolyte levels to function properly. It’s our job to do the maintenance to ensure this happens.
We need to regularly replenish our electrolyte levels by consuming electrolyte sources such as calcium, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, chloride, and sodium. Electrolytes are derived from the consumption of these minerals.
However, in this piece, we shall be concentrating on replenishing electrolytes with calcium and how electrolytes are essential to the body’s functionality.
Electrolytes Are Vital For Cell Function Throughout The Body
Electrolytes aid the function and effect of cells in the body, in that they help cells generate energy, ensure their walls are stable, aid muscle contraction, transport fluids and water around the body, and promote many other essential processes.
Electrolytes help in the maintenance of electrical neutrality in the cells and this ensures the optimal functionality of the body cells. More so, electrolyte levels in the body need to be maintained to ensure the body functions properly.
An electrolyte imbalance occurs when the electrolytes in your body are too low or high. If electrolyte levels in your body aren’t balanced, the functionality of the body will be affected negatively.
Symptoms Of Electrolyte Imbalance
If the imbalance is a mild one, there may not be any symptoms. Symptoms begin to appear as the imbalance becomes severe and they vary from individual to individual in some cases.
However, the common symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance or disorder are:
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Irregular heartbeat
Calcium Is Indispensable For Electrolyte Balance
As an electrolyte, calcium plays a significant physiological role in the human body. It aids blood clotting, the contraction of muscles, and the transmission of nerve impulses. More so, it is involved in the secretion of hormones and skeletal mineralization.
Typically, imbalances in electrolytes occur by either excreting too little or too much electrolyte or consuming too little or too much electrolyte.
Although the most plentiful electrolyte in the body is calcium, a large percentage of it is used for the formulation of the bones. Usually, it is absorbed into the body and then excreted via the GI system.
The majority of calcium in the body actually resides extracellularly and is vital for the function of cells, neurons, coagulation, and enzymes.
Calcium-Rich Food To Help Replenish Electrolytes
Seeds
Seeds may be tiny but they’re rich in calcium and are super nutritional. Some which are high in calcium are celery, sesame, poppy, and chia seeds. These can significantly help to replenish electrolytes in the body and are easy to toss into your daily foods.
Cheese
Most cheeses are excellent sources of calcium; the one with the highest amount is parmesan cheese- it has up to 331mg of the required daily intake per ounce.
Beans and Lentils
Not only are beans high in calcium, but they are also amazing sources of micronutrients, fiber, and protein. They contain lots of zinc, iron, and folate, making them an excellent choice to replenish the body’s electrolytes with.
Almonds
If you’re looking to replenish your electrolytes and you haven’t tried almonds, you should! Of all nuts, they are among the highest in calcium
Fig
With just 100 grams of dried figs, you get up to 162 mg of calcium.
Our team recommends trying out a fig shake! It’s a delicious way to get the vitamin C benefits from figs.
All you need to do is blend 2-3 dried figs with one glass of milk and it’ll be ready to be served. The texture of the figs creates a thick, creamy shake with a rich flavor and nutritional benefit.
Yogurt
Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium. It is a healthy and perfect option if you’re looking to replenish your electrolyte.
Final Thoughts
In summary, to prevent electrolyte imbalance, make sure you eat a lot of calcium-rich foods just like the ones mentioned above. If yours is caused by underlying conditions, pay a visit to your doctor to adjust your medication and treat the cause.
