After a 10k run, the last thing I want is to feel the full force of my training exercise and experience cramps and fatigue that will probably ground my sporting ambitions for the foreseeable future. I don’t consider myself much of an athlete. In fact, the last time I exercised regularly, sliced bread was still seen as something of a gimmick. But chances are, if you are reading this post, you are taking this sports thing more seriously than I am, and therefore, the best electrolytes in Australia interest you.
By now, you are probably aware of the primary role of the electrolytes in our bodies. Essential for balancing fluids and carrying electrical signals to and from your muscle fibres, electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, support nerve signals, are absolutely crucial for muscle contractions, and their proper balance is required in order to maintain your body’s optimal PH levels. Are you out of breath after only a couple of meters, have forgotten how to properly do your gym routine, and have trouble concentrating on your sporting activities? Yeah, those are not the electrolytes but rather the burger you ate last night and a lack of a proper gym routine.
But do you feel cramps after intense exercise? You have trouble recovering, and do you feel like your maximum performance is affected by dehydration? In that case, you are probably losing more electrolytes than you consume, which, in real terms, can be the worst thing possible for your sporting activities. Do you want to keep the cells of your body working properly? To avoid collapsing like me after just thinking about a run? Then, you will need to consider the importance of proper hydration.
Pickle Juice? Really?
Yes, really. Although I should mention I am not referring to the acidic and frankly delicious vinegary liquid you can find in your fridge, but rather the sport’s drink made to alleviate the effects of night cramps associated with intensive exercise routines. The Pickle Juice sports drink is 100% naturally isotonic, and its key ingredients feature filtered water, vinegar, salt, organic dill oil, and rosemary extract. The name is actually quite appropriate if you start thinking about it.
Pickle Juice has as many as ten times the number of ordinary electrolytes as regular sport drinks, and that’s because it features more than 820 mg of sodium per serving. Now, for regular, everyday usage, this will be an issue, as too much sodium in your diet can lead to all sorts of problems, like heart palpitations, increased heart rate, hypertension, and the weakening of arterial walls. But if you are an athlete, like I certainly am not, sodium is pretty much your best friend. During intense exercise, or long work hours in hot climates, your body could lose significantly more than just 8mg of Sodium.
This is bad news, as sodium, as things stand, is probably the most important electrolyte in our bodies. Yeah, it’s not the only one. You also need Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Phosphate and Bicarbonate. But sodium is the primary electrolyte for the body’s fluid balance, it maintains blood pressure, and speaking of blood, is the reason why our blood volume remains constant regardless of diet. Due to dehydration, are you faced with a Sodium imbalance? Then, your body will feel it.
Water Is Not Enough
Like me, after an intensive exercise regimen, the first thing you want to do is probably to drink a whole gallon of water in one sitting. But even though your body for sure requires prompt hydration after workouts, drinking just water will not exactly be the most scientifically intelligent move to aid your recovery. You see, during workouts, like I mentioned previously, your body is not just losing liquids, but also electrolytes, which are essential for proper muscle and nerve function.
Replacing this lost water with a couple of cold drinks will quench your thirst but will likely not do anything to replenish the minerals and vitamins missing from your bloodstream. In fact, it can make matters worse, as too many liquids in a short amount of time could dilute what’s already present in your blood, and prolong your muscle cramping, fatigue, and in some cases, even lead to hyponatremia.
The best electrolytes in Australia, like Pickle Juice, should, in theory, aid with this, as the added Zinc, Potassium and Sodium in the sports drink should eliminate the side effects of intense exercise regimes. Granted, you still get the occasional cramp, muscle soreness, and if you’re in shape like me, you will also experience the joy of running out of breath after less than a couple of miles run. But a sports drink like this will help.
What Else Can You Do?
Preparation is the key to an efficient exercise routine. In fact, you can use this as a general life motto. Do you want to avoid muscle cramps and the side effects of electrolyte imbalance that will impact the performance of your sporting activities? In such a case, besides selecting the best electrolytes available in Australia, and going for options like Pickle Juice, you will also need to consider properly stretching before the exercise routine and loading up on carbs and proteins immediately after the sporting activities are over, to replenish glycogen and aid in your muscle fibres’ recovery.
Yes, it’s important to browse for the best electrolytes available in Australia, but it’s equally important to ensure that your body is prepared for post-workout routines. Have you ever seen professional athletes going for an ice bath shortly after a workout? There’s a reason for this. Cold temperature causes the blood vessels to constrict, which in turn reduces post-workout inflammation and flushes out metabolic waste. It’s not pleasant. In fact, it really sucks. But combined with massages, it’s one of the best ways possible to reduce the side effects of high-intensity training.