The Science Behind Sweat: Why Electrolytes Matter
If you’re dripping in sweat after a workout, you know it’s time to rehydrate.
But before you reach for your water bottle, it’s important to understand exactly what sweat is made of, because we lose more than just water when we sweat — we also lose electrolytes. Replacing these key minerals can help you hydrate more efficiently and maintain peak performance.
Here’s what you need to know about the science behind sweat.
Why Do We Sweat?
Sweat is your body’s natural cooling system. When you’re feeling the heat — whether it’s from a hot day, a spicy meal, a nerve-wracking situation, or an intense workout — your body ramps up sweat production to stay cool.
“Generally, we sweat to help regulate body temperature under hot conditions,” says Paul Falcone, MS, principal scientist at BODi. “When the water in the sweat evaporates, it cools the skin.”
Your skin contains millions of sweat glands, and around a quart of sweat evaporates from your skin each day.
What Do Our Bodies Lose in Sweat?
“Sweat is made mostly of water and electrolytes, which are essential minerals in the body,” Falcone explains. Sweat may also contain traces of urea, uric acid, ammonia, vitamin C, and other substances.
The primary electrolytes we lose when we sweat are sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These electrolytes serve a variety of important purposes within the body and help to keep your nerves, muscles, heart, and brain functioning properly.
Electrolytes are so vital, Falcone adds, that their levels are tightly regulated within the body to help ensure that basic processes won’t be disrupted. So, when you’re working up a sweat during a longer workout, it’s important to replace the electrolytes you’re losing in addition to water.
How to Replenish What’s Lost When We Sweat
Water is essential for hydration — no surprises there.
But during a longer workout — especially if you’re cranking up the intensity — a beverage like Beachbody Performance Hydrate can help replenish both fluids and electrolytes to help you maintain a higher level of performance.*
That’s because — along with all their other duties — electrolytes play a critical role in hydration beverages by helping the body to absorb water more effectively and maintain an optimal balance of fluids. Adding Beachbody Performance Hydrate to your water bottle can help to replenish those electrolytes so you can rehydrate more efficiently.
“Electrolytes help with the osmolality of the beverage, which means that it is easier for the body to absorb the water,” Falcone explains. This focus on osmolality makes Beachbody Performance Hydrate more beneficial for hydration than water alone.
To ensure you’re getting the ideal balance of electrolytes, Beachbody Performance Hydrate is formulated with a scientifically backed combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates to optimize hydration, improve endurance, and help kick-start muscle recovery.*
“Carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages have been demonstrated to support endurance in clinical studies,” Falcone says. “Carbohydrates provide fuel to working muscles, and electrolytes support several bodily processes necessary for exercise.”
To get the most out of Beachbody Performance Hydrate, it’s best to drink it during or after a workout. Mix one serving with 8 ounces of water for every 30 minutes of exercise to help maintain fluid balance and support performance.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.