An Electrolyte Imbalance

    Your body is a complex super structure organism of  cells, tissues           and  fluids that needs electrons (not calories, carbohydrates, proteins          or  fats) to generate life  force.  It’s these electrical impulses that keeps       you  beating  on  all  cylinders,  energized  and revitalized. This is only possible because those cells, tissues and  fluids thrive in a homeostatic environment.

     While  in this environment  they conduct electricity well enough to         carry the signals to the intended destinations. When dissolved in body    fluid, salts tend to break a part into their components ions, creating an electrically – conduction solution.  Any  fluid  that  conducts electricity  known as an electrolyte  and several common electrolytes are  found in       the human body.

    Each serving a specific and important role, most in part responsible          for maintaining the balance of  fluids between the intracellular (inside)    and extracellular (outside the cell) environment. This balance is critical    for things like hydration, nerve impulses, muscle  function and pH level. Therefore,  an electrolyte imbalance, whether to much or to little, can be quite detrimental to your health  (muscle contraction,  for example  also requires calcium, potassium and sodium; deficiencies may also result in muscle weakness or severe cramping (charley horses as we age.)

   To much sodium,  on  the  other hand,  can cause high blood pressure      and  significantly  increased  risk of  heart disease.  Thereby, the proper amounts being consumed each day  is between 12  and 14 grams (not the     24 – 32  grams that are normal.  Therefore, electrolyte levels are mostly determined by   food  and water consumption.

     So keeping the right balance simply comes down to proper nutrition.         The human body is a salty solution of  fluid: blood,  sweat,  tears,  saliva, and urine is all made up of  the Seven Major Electrolytes:

Electrolyte #1 | Sodium (Na+)     An  essential  electrolyte  for  humans,  sodium  is responsible for controlling the total amount of water in the body.  It is also important       for regulating blood volume,  maintaining muscle  and nerve function.  Sodium is the major positively-charged ion (cation)  outside your body cells  and is mostly found in blood,  plasma,  and  lymph  fluid.  This  creates  one-half  of  the electrical pump  that keeps electrolytes in balance between the intracellular and extracellular environments (i.e., sodium outside of cells and potassium inside of cells).

Electrolyte #2 | Chloride (Cl-)   The  major negatively – charged ion (anion),  chloride  primarily found in extracellular fluid and works closely with sodium to maintain proper balance and pressure of the various fluid compartments of the body (blood,  inside cells, and the fluid between cells). It is also vitally important for maintaining proper acidity in the body, passively balancing out the positive ions of blood, tissue and organs.

Electrolyte #3 | Potassium (K+)  sodium is mainly found outside the cells,  potassium is      the major cation inside cells  and is hugely important for regulating heartbeat and muscle function.  It forms  the other half  of the electrical pump  that keeps electrolytes in balance  allowing conductivity between cells,  while also making potassium a critical part of neuron transmission.  The proper balance  between potassium  and  sodium is also very important to maintaining our health.  What’s worse,  is that imbalance of potassium  and sodium can further increasing the risk of hypertension,  heart disease  and stroke.  However,  we often skimp on natural fruits and vegetables full of potassium in favor of processed foods loaded with sodium.

Electrolyte #4 | Magnesium (Mg++)   If  you  take  into  consideration  how  critical  it          is to life on this planet.  Magnesium may be the most under – appreciated mineral in your nutritional arsenal. Not only is it necessary for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, but it also plays  an important role  in the synthesis of both DNA  and RNA,  its essential to every cell  of every known living organism.  Magnesium  the fourth most prevalent mineral in the human body, magnesium helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function,  boosts the immune system,  maintains  stable heart rate,  stabilizes blood sugar and promotes the formation of bones and teeth.

Electrolyte #5 | Calcium  (Ca++)   You probably already know that calcium is necessary    for the formation of bones and teeth. But what you may not realize  is that it’s also critical for transmission of nerve impulse, blood clotting, and muscle contraction. Being the most abundant mineral in your body, about 99% of all calcium is found in the skeletal structure, but your body  also needs a balance  in the bloodstream  and other cells  (especially muscle cells). If there is not enough calcium in your blood levels,  it will be taken  from your bones to  supplement the deficiency. While left unchecked,  this  lack  of  calcium  can  eventually lead to Osteoporosis.  The recommended calcium  intake is 1000  to 1500mg  per day  to maintain proper levels in the bloodstream and avoid weakening of bones.

Electrolyte #6 | Phosphate  (HPO4–)  Second  to  calcium,  phosphorus  follows  as  the   most abundant mineral in your body, 85% of which is found in your bones as phosphate. The phosphate (anion) works closely with calcium to strengthen bones and teeth, but it is  essential to energy production within cells,  necessary for tissue growth and repair, and is a major building block for cell membranes and DNA.  Most people get the correct amount of phosphorus through their diets,  but high levels of phosphate (hyperphosphatemia) are not uncommon and generally indicate kidney disease or calcium deficiency. Increased phosphate in the body has been associated to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Electrolyte #7 | Bicarbonate  (HCO3-)   Our bodies  rely  upon a sophisticated  buffering system to maintain proper pH levels. The Lungs regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the body,  most of which is combined with water and converted to carbonic acid (H2CO3). This carbonic acid can then be quickly converted to bicarbonate (HCO3-), which is the key component  in the pH buffer.  Whenever these acids build up through metabolic processes or production of lactic acid in your muscles,  the kidneys release this bicarbonate (alkaline solution) into your system to counteract the increased acidity.

If your body  is becoming more basic,  the kidneys will lessen the amount of bicarbonate   to increase acidity. Without this system, rapid changes in pH balance could cause severe problems inside the body and damage sensitive tissue around the central nervous system. This bicarbonate buffer is one of the biggest reason our bodies  can maintain homeostasis and function properly.

The Balance of Electrolytes:   As  you  can  see,  each plays  a critical role  in keeping your body running well, but the key thing to note is that they function in a very specific balance. The reason its so important to know just what electrolytes do is because most people don’t realize that it’s all in the balance. Disrupting the equilibrium can be either toxic… deficient levels can have disastrous effects.  Increasing incidence of hypertension  and heart disease all over the world can be attributed to the rising occurrences of sodium imbalances.

So there you have it  –  your  all – star lineup  of electrolytes:  now that you know exactly what electrolytes are how they should be balanced,  the solution is simple – eat a healthy, natural diet!  It seems so easy,  however,  this is vital for keeping your own superhighway in tip-top shape.   Remember  Also:  take care of your body  and  it will take care of you!
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