Electrolytes are an important part of the ketogenic diet. But, chances are, you didn’t really give them much thought before you began the keto diet. Electrolytes play a big part in keeping our body healthy and our processes regulated. Read on to see how electrolytes impact our health.
Dehydration
As adults, most of us probably got our first up close and personal lesson about the power of electrolytes shortly after we turned 21. Alcohol is a natural dehydrator as it upsets our electrolyte balance. Many of us dealt with some dehydration if we played sports in high school or ran around too much on hot summer days as a kid, but nothing compares to that first hangover in terms of sheer feeling awful.
Electrolytes are a great way to help restore your body’s balance after a night out drinking. Intentionally Bare’s Keto BHB drink is a healthy way to help replenish your body’s store.
Upset Stomachs
A quick-acting gastrointestinal bug or mild case of food poisoning can wreak havoc on our electrolyte balance. Most of our lives, we were told to eat the BRAT diet and drink an electrolyte drink. We know now that while the BRAT diet is mild enough to give our gut bacteria time to recover, bone broth with added collagen is probably a better choice, because we know that collagen is great for gut health. Traditional electrolyte drinks that come in bright colors are full of sugar and synthetic ingredients. That’s probably not the best option for someone recovering from illness. Add a probiotic if your stomach bug was particularly rough.
Headaches
Headaches are often an early sign of an electrolyte imbalance. Many migraine sufferers are told to keep a source of electrolytes on hand as the first line of defense when they feel a migraine coming on. It’s a better solution than heading straight to the pharmaceuticals, if you can catch the migraine soon enough. Paired with resting in a dark room, restoring the electrolyte balance may help head off a headache before it becomes more serious.
Fatigue
I’ve talked about the role of electrolytes in helping to calm the keto flu. It can also help when you’ve got that mid-afternoon slump happening. This type of electrolyte imbalance is often caused by a diet that isn’t high enough in sodium and/or potassium. Try increasing these in your lunch to see if you can solve the issues your having.
Muscle Cramps
If you find that you’re having muscle cramps, you may be experiencing an electrolyte imbalance. Magnesium, in particular, can be what you’re missing if you’re having problems with muscle cramps. Try adding a supplement if you have muscle cramps on a regular basis.
Struggles During Workouts
Many people experience struggles during their workouts. They hit a wall and feel like they just can’t finish. This is usually the result of an electrolyte imbalance. If you were low in electrolytes to begin with, and then you lost even more through sweat, it’s no wonder that you hit that wall. Try adding my BHB drink to your water so that you can sip it as you work out, gradually replenishing your depleting electrolyte stores.
If you find that you’re craving salty foods, that’s a signal from your body that you need more electrolytes in your diet. Adding keto-friendly foods such as pickles or olives will help tremendously. Some of the members of my Intentionally Bare Keto Support group swear by drinking pickle juice after a workout. While it’s not my preferred method of replenishing electrolytes, if it works for you, then go for it!
All in all, you need a diet that’s well-rounded in electrolytes to be healthy. Chances are, you didn’t notice the lack of electrolytes before you started keto because you ate more processed foods, which are generally higher in sodium. That kept your electrolytes balanced enough that you never felt depleted. However, as you start eating healthier foods, you may need to supplement your electrolytes to keep your balance in check!
Have questions about how to keep your body healthy on your keto journey? Be sure to stop by my Intentionally Bare Keto Support group on Facebook, where you can join more than 18,000 other members who are at all phases of their own keto journeys. There’s tons of discussions, and I lead challenges every month! I’d love to see you there.
You got this!
Leta
~ Intentionally Bare
❗️ DISCLAIMER: Health information given here is based on public research and is not meant to take the place of your doctor's advice. Always do your own research and discuss it with your health practitioner before trying a new diet, supplement or exercise plan.
❗️ DISCLOSURE: I manufacture a line of 100% natural keto products under the brand name, Intentionally Bare. These products will be mentioned from time to time because they are amazingly healthy and fantastic for those on a ketogenic diet or anyone looking to improve their health. I am also a participant in the Amazon services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.** I ONLY ever post a link to products I personally USE and LOVE!
