Sip Smarter: Electrolyte Decision Tool

Curious about electrolytes and when your clients need them? This hydration guide breaks it down in a simple, practical way. Electrolytes—like sodium, potassium, and chloride—are essential minerals that help your body retain water and maintain fluid balance. Your body can lose fluid through both sensible (measurable) and insensible (non-measurable) fluid losses. Sweating and urination fall into the sensible fluid loss category, and our body also loses electrolytes with those fluids. During exercise, sweat fluid and electrolyte losses increase. An exercise hydration strategy that includes electrolytes become especially important during high-intensity exercise in hot environments or during long duration activities where sweat rates and overall fluid loss may be greater. By understanding when the body needs additional electrolytes with their fluid, you can help your clients make smarter hydration choices to support performance, health, and overall well-being.