Electrolytes? Do I need them?

[ClaudiaJean]

I keep getting ads for electrolytes with magnesium, potassium etc.
I am late forties.
Do I need to take electrolytes?
Any recommendations?
thanks

Only if you're sweating profusely (eg exercising hard in the heat) or losing fluids through sickness and diarrhoea. And sometimes people who take certain types of diuretics need extra potassium.

OTOH, extra potassium can be dangerous if you're taking some sorts of meds or have certain types of kidney disease.

An adult who can tell when they're thirsty and get themselves a drink rarely needs to take extra electrolytes. Healthy kidneys do a good job of sorting that out for you.

It's all marketing. Did our grandparents need to buy extra electrolytes drinks or tablets? No. Did they manage fine without them? On the whole, yes.

I use them if I run over 15km. Other than that no, you’ll be fine without them!

(and you can probably run 15km and be fine without them tbf)

What @mauvishagain x 100

I've only ever used them on long bike rides.

If I go to a spin class at the gym, I twist salt into my water bottle and add a squeeze of lime - homemade electrolytes.

There are lots of foods that are good natural sources of electrolytes; cottage cheese and courgettes are good sources of potassium for example.

No. I use them in this hot weather in my water during sessions at the gym, but otherwise no.

This is all super useful thank you!

I have very low blood pressure and POTS. I use them to help me to feel less faint. Also helps to reduce muscle twitches after going to the gym.

I have used them in the last year after surgeries. I was drinking 4L of water a day, taking lactulose and occasionally a antibiotics which gave me diahrea. I also have low blood pressure. So I took one of my pints of water with electrolytes.

Now I use one if I've been drinking a lot of water. Or if I'm feeling woozy.