Introduction: The importance of hydration for athletes

As an athlete, you know firsthand that achieving peak performance, reaching personal goals, and maintaining success are a result of the specific program you've developed to care for your body: proper nutrition, hydration, training, and recovery. But did you know how important hydration is to athlete performance? Water balance can have a DRAMATIC impact on performance. Studies even suggest that athletic performance can be compromised with as little as 2% water loss. However, hydration is much more than just fluid intake.

Why do we need electrolytes for hydration?

Hydration also includes replenishing electrolytes lost through sweating. Electrolytes and hydration are necessary for peak performance, whether you're training for a marathon, a CrossFitter, or taking a spin class. They are minerals that carry tiny electrical charges throughout the body, helping to:

• To transmit impulses via our nerves
• to contract our muscles
• to regulate the pH value, metabolism and blood pressure in our body.

Think of electrolytes like the oil in a car's engine. They don't power the engine, but they are absolutely essential for everything to function properly. Electrolytes help optimize physiology and ensure that we are and remain alert, responsive, and healthy.

How does sweating affect the water balance of athletes?

Athletes typically sweat much more than untrained individuals. When the body begins to overheat, the nervous system stimulates the sweat glands, causing the body to sweat to cool down.

Recent studies suggest that athletes sweat more due to their higher performance: the body is able to exert more effort for the same aerobic performance, which leads to greater heat generation and increased sweating.

Have you ever noticed that your sweat tastes a bit salty? Every time your body produces sweat, it uses up sodium and chloride, and to a lesser extent, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

What is the recommended amount of electrolytes for athletes?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to hydration. The recommended amount of electrolytes for athletes supporting an active lifestyle is also difficult to calculate. The required amount of electrolytes for athletes depends on many factors, such as age, gender, weight, climate, fitness, and activity level. However, if you exercise for less than two hours, an electrolyte mix containing 120-160 mg of sodium and 50-100 mg of potassium per 470 ml should be sufficient.

If you're an extreme athlete, you may need a product with a much higher concentration of electrolytes to replenish your body. Athletes in this group should aim for between 400-500 mg of sodium and 400-500 mg of potassium per 470 ml.

The right choice of electrolytes

Be VERY careful about your electrolyte choices. Many of today's popular sports drinks contain sugar, artificial flavors, colors, fillers, and only maltodextrin (no other carbohydrate chains)—who would want to add those ingredients to a well-oiled machine? As athletes, we strive to use the cleanest and most natural products to ensure our bodies' long-term performance!

Electrolytes like ours provide your body with the healthy nutrients it needs to perform at its best. You can easily get the electrolytes found in a conventional sports drink in a clean, marine mineral-based supplement that helps energize and recharge you for your next effort.

Conclusion: Optimal performance through proper hydration

Refuel your body with fluids and electrolytes to hydrate, enhance performance, improve endurance, and recover.

If you're an athlete who cares about what you put into your body, you should always choose a high-quality electrolyte supplement from a company committed to using high-quality, natural ingredients—like le melo. They provide clean, effective electrolytes that ensure your body absorbs the nutrients it needs to train optimally!