Listen to Story Our bodies are made up of cells, flesh, blood, and muscles, but that only accounts for about 40% — the other 60% is water. Water is important for most of our bodily functions, from carrying nutrients to the cells to keeping the brain active. The problem lies when we continuously lose water through sweating, urination, and breathing, but we're not able to properly refill the tank by staying hydrated or drinking enough fluids.
One of the major ways in which the body loses water is sweating , which is the body's natural way of regulating temperature. When you're hot, sweat glands release fluid (mostly water) onto the skin. As this sweat evaporates, it cools the body down.
Sweating also occurs during exercise, stress, or illness to help maintain the body's internal balance. With lost water, many other minerals are also lost in the process. To rehydrate the body, simply drinking water isn't enough.
One of the major ways in which the body loses water is sweating, which is the body's natural way of regulating temperature. (photo: Getty Images) Most drinks are absorbed well and paired with minerals like sodium, potassium, and chloride. These minerals are present in several electrolytes .
While electrolytes and energy drinks are usually seen as a regular means to hydrate the body among athletes, does the average person actually need these supplements? Experts suggest that even regular people need sodium for the body. The normal sodium range in the body is quite narro.