Staying hydrated is an often-overlooked piece of the weight loss puzzle, and simply drinking water isn’t going to cut it. Adding electrolytes to your nutrition plan is a great idea, and we’re eager to explain why. But before we can discuss how you can incorporate electrolytes to lose weight, we need to talk about what electrolytes are, where you can get them, when you should drink them, and more.
What are electrolytes?
You hear the word “electrolytes” thrown around from time to time, and you’re not sure what it means. What are electrolytes, and why should you care?
Electrolytes are a blend of essential minerals that help your body to perform essential functions. Common electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium balance your body’s water levels, blood pressure, and pH. They move nutrients into the cell and support blood, muscle, heart, and bone health.
Not all electrolyte sources are created equally. The balance of salt and water in your body is critical to being hydrated. Many people think hydration means simply drinking enough water, but that is not the case. Having the right balance of water and minerals in your body is critical to helping your body perform its functions.
For more information about the function of electrolytes, check out the information on Medline, which also addresses electrolyte imbalance, or listen to Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast episode on the importance of salt in our diets.
Where can I find electrolytes?
Electrolytes can be found naturally in the food you eat. If you’re eating a well-balanced diet, you are getting all of the electrolytes you need. That said, most of us could use a little help, so where else can we find electrolytes?
Supplementing your diet with electrolyte powders is great to make sure you are well-hydrated, especially if you exercise regularly. You can find electrolytes on the shelves of the store or in a Smart Fit Method studio. Be careful to always buy a brand you trust since supplements are not well regulated by the FDA.
Read the FDA’s website to find out more about supplement brands and how to make a wise choice as a consumer. Electrolyte options are everywhere, but the quality of supplements can vary. We recommend consuming one of our trusted brands, LMNT and Ultima, which you can purchase through our app or buy the next time you come in for a workout.
The supplement industry has a massive number of products available, so running a quick Google search will get you nowhere. At The Smart Fit Method, we take the guesswork out of buying supplements and recommend several fantastic products optimized to help your body do what it needs to do, including losing weight.
Do I need to drink electrolytes to lose weight?
At this point, you might be questioning how this supplement can help you shed unwanted body fat.
Drinking electrolytes can dramatically improve your body’s ability to shed body fat. Maintaining the right levels of hydration will improve your performance during workouts, help you sleep better, move toxins through your system, and more. Our members lose 44% more body fat when hydrating with electrolytes.
Drinking electrolytes as a supplement to your nutrition plan can have great benefits for your health. Losing body fat is just the most noticeable! We highly recommend including this heavily researched, tested, and trusted supplement in your nutrition plan.
If you have any questions, you can talk to your trainer the next time you’re in the studio or book an appointment on our website to learn more.
When to drink electrolytes?
Timing to drink electrolytes is important. At the Smart Fit method, our trainers make the following recommendations for when to drink your electrolytes supplement.
Drink electrolytes first thing in the morning, after a hard workout, and right before bed for best results. Unless you are training extremely hard, three scoops a day is the optimal amount to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Be careful, as more than three scoops could put your system out of balance.
We all know that we can have too much of a good thing. No matter how delicious electrolytes taste, don’t forget to drink plain water in between your supplements, too. The dosage makes the poison, and exceeding the recommended dosage could have unintended negative consequences on your health. Read more here.
Best electrolytes for performance weight loss
At The Smart Fit Method, we only supply trusted, high-quality brands for our members. Our supplements were selected for us by our board-certified nutritionist, Megan Lyons. These are the best electrolytes for performance and weight loss.
LMNT
LMNT has a saltier flavor than any other brand of electrolytes, which they pride themselves on. After decades of reducing salt from our diets, their research has found that many modern problems point back to being under-salted.
Ultima Replenisher
Ultima is a sugar-free electrolyte product that has an unbeatable, plant-based flavor, and the product comes in a convenient and eco-friendly canister.
Both of these brands are great because they don’t include sugar in their formulation. Most electrolyte beverages you’ll find on the shelf contain a lot of unnecessary sugar. Whether you like the taste of lemon or like to go a little with a flavor like watermelon or blue raspberry, these brands have you covered in a zero-sugar formulation.
Listen to LMNT’s podcast episode for more information about the importance of hydration.
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