Electrolytes are important for young athletic children because they help regulate bodily functions that are especially critical during physical activity, such as fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signalling. When children engage in physical activity, they can lose significant amounts of electrolytes through sweat, particularly sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Loss of electrolytes through sweat can lead to dehydration, which can negatively impact athletic performance and increase the risk of heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Electrolyte imbalances can also cause muscle cramps, weakness, and fatigue, which can limit athletic performance.
Deciding when to use a sports drink, electrolyte-infuse water, or plain water, can be confusing. Here is a simple tip to help you decide whether an electrolyte-based drink is needed, or not:
Only drinking water may flush electrolytes out of the body, especially if your KID is sweating at the same time. It is important to maintain electrolyte levels or replace electrolytes to support muscle contraction. The ideal is to offer an electrolyte-based drink if training for longer than an hour and/or if it is hot outside. A pre-exercise snack and a drink of water will otherwise suffice.
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