12 Super Foods Rich In Electrolyte

What Are Electrolytes?

We would have all heard of ORS or electral at some point of time, these are drinks that contain electrolytes. The human body depends on a complex balance of nutrients that are required for its healthy growth and development. These are called electrolytes.

Also Read: List Of Foods That Are High In Potassium

They are a combination of minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, chloride, hydrogen phosphate and hydrogen bicarbonate. They maintain the fluid balance in the body and help keep the cells and tissues moist and hydrated always.

Also Read: Foods That Are Rich In Iodine

They are taken when a person loses vital nutrients due to diarrhoea, vomiting, exhaustion due to heat or after a particularly long and hard day, resulting in excessive sweating.

What Happens If We Do Not Get Sufficient Electrolytes?

When the body lacks sufficient electrolytes, it can cause a variety of problems like cramps, spasms, headaches and can affect the brain and muscle functions. When electrolytes are lost due to vomiting and diarrhoea, heavy exercise or too much of sweating, they must be replenished immediately with supplements. It is akin to the shutting down of power, as cells can get deprived of fluids and have to be restocked instantaneously.

Does Water Contain Electrolytes?

Electrolytes cannot be obtained by drinking plain filtered water. We need to look for alternatives instead, and what better than those that are closer to nature rather than going in for the artificial ones, right?

Nature, The Great Giver

We only have to look around in nature and it would never fail us. There are many foods that are rich in electrolytes.

The Tender Coconut

Tender coconut water is an amazing source of electrolytes, so cool and refreshing that it can kick start our rhythm right away. No sports drink with its high sugar content and artificial colours can ever match the coconut water's healing properties.

Colour Them Bright

Red, orange and yellow are sure to make us mellow. Fruits and vegetables with these colours like the ones found in beets, corn, apples, limes, lemons, oranges, avocados, bell peppers (red, yellow, orange) and squash are rich in electrolytes. Veggies like potatoes, cucumbers, turnips and radishes are also electrolyte and nutrient rich.

White Is Right

Nuts and seeds like sesame seeds are foods rich in electrolytes.

Banana

Banana is a powerhouse of a fruit that is rich in electrolytes, giving us an instant energy.

Green Is In

Beans and green leafy vegetables add the much-required electrolytes to our body.

Balance The Meal

A well-balanced meal with a generous helping of vegetables and a daily dose of fresh fruits will provide us with all the minerals that we need. It is a combination of vegetables and fruits that make foods rich in electrolytes. Some are a rich source of potassium and magnesium, whereas others supply calcium and sodium. So, it is important not to omit any plant product to get all the supplements that the body requires.

East Or West, Home Is The Best

The market is filled with supplements and drinks that come in the form of powders and potions. But the sad truth is that along with the nutrients, they are also loaded with artificial sweeteners, colours and sugars that may do more harm than do good in the long run.

Simple Foods Rich In Electrolytes

Electrolyte-rich foods like a banana smoothie, a cocktail of lime, lemon salt, ginger and water or a glass of pomegranate juice with a dash of honey, can leave us tingling with freshness. These can be prepared in the kitchen in a jiffy.

Say No To Common Salt

A great way to get nutrients in is by avoiding the refined table salt commonly available in the market, as they contain an excessive amount of sodium. So, substitute it with good salts instead like Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt.