There’s more to hydration than just getting enough water in your body. Otherwise, there would be no real need for electrolyte products.
But what do electrolytes actually do? Why is it that headaches and cramps seem to magically go away after drinking them?
To understand that, we need to understand what electrolytes are.
Electrolytes Crash Course
If the word “electrolytes” makes you think of electricity, you’re not far off. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge due to the loss or gain of an electron. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are just a few examples.
If you remember from chemistry class, water is highly polar, meaning it attaches quickly to many different substances. And these charged electrolytes are eager to attach onto water molecules. By doing this, electrolytes are able to act as carriers to bring water into the places in the body it needs to go.
That’s why electrolytes actually help your body absorb and use the water you drink. Without them, water mostly just passes through your system.
These minerals control a lot of what happens inside your body:
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They help muscles contract
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They keep your heart beating properly
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They help your brain send signals
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They balance the fluids inside and outside of your cells
Without electrolytes, none of that can happen correctly. And without balance, your body starts to show signs of dehydration, even if you’re drinking water.
Water Alone Isn’t Enough
Water is essential. But water cannot hydrate your body unless electrolytes are present. That’s because water needs to move into your cells to be useful. And electrolytes are what help pull that water into the cells.
A 2020 study showed that drinks containing electrolytes rehydrated the body better than plain water, especially after sweating or exercise (1). The reason was simple: electrolytes helped the body retain more of the water and deliver it where it was needed most.†
On Cellular Hydration
Inside your body, your cells are surrounded by fluid. That fluid needs to stay balanced. If it gets too salty or too diluted, your cells cannot function well. Electrolytes help regulate this balance by controlling the flow of water in and out of the cells.
When you sweat, breathe, or go to the bathroom, you lose both water and electrolytes. If you replace only the water and not the minerals, your body cannot return to balance. This condition is called hyponatremia, and it can actually be dangerous if not corrected.
Multiple clinical studies have shown that electrolyte-enhanced drinks are more effective at restoring hydration than plain water. For example, a 2016 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that drinks with sodium and potassium were significantly better at helping the body stay hydrated long-term (2).†
But you don’t need to be an athlete to lose electrolytes. Everyday things like walking, working, breathing, sleeping, and even stress can cause you to lose fluids and minerals. When electrolyte levels drop, you may feel:
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Fatigue
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Headaches
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Muscle cramps
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Brain fog
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Dry skin or dry mouth
These are not just signs of needing more water. They are signs of needing better hydration, which includes electrolytes.
Many people drink more and more water to fix these symptoms. But that can actually make things worse if it dilutes the few minerals you have left. That's why proper hydration isn't just about the volume of water in your body. It also requires the right balance of electrolytes.
The Problem with Sports Drinks
Many sports drinks market themselves as hydration helpers. But here’s the catch: most of them are loaded with sugar, artificial dyes, and barely enough electrolytes to make a real difference.
These products spike your blood sugar, give you a quick energy hit, and often lead to a crash later on. The sugar also interferes with how your body absorbs the electrolytes that are present. So you end up tired, bloated, and no more hydrated than when you started.
What Makes ViCera Different?
At ViCera, we knew we needed a better option. Our HYDRATE formula uses hand-harvested, specialty French sea salt, which is a natural source of sodium and trace minerals. Instead of added sugar or dyes, we only give what your body actually needs to hydrate on a cellular level.†
Whether you’re sweating through a workout, working long hours, breastfeeding, or just living life, HYDRATE helps restore what you lose. It’s simple, clean, and effective.
Electrolytes are not optional when it comes to hydration. They are essential. Your body cannot absorb, hold onto, or use water properly without them. That’s why real hydration means more than just drinking water. It means giving your body the minerals it needs to use that water well.
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Relevant Studies
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Fan, P., Burns, S., & Lee, J. (2020). Efficacy of Ingesting an Oral Rehydration Solution after Exercise on Fluid Balance and Endurance Performance. Nutrients, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123826.
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Maughan, R., Watson, P., Cordery, P., Walsh, N., Oliver, S., Dolci, A., Rodriguez-Sanchez, N., & Galloway, S. (2016). A randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status: development of a beverage hydration index.. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 103 3, 717-23 . https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.115.114769.
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Evans, G., James, L., Shirreffs, S., & Maughan, R. (2017). Optimizing the restoration and maintenance of fluid balance after exercise-induced dehydration.. Journal of applied physiology, 122 4, 945-951 . https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00745.2016.
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Shirreffs, S., Watson, P., & Maughan, R. (2007). Milk as an effective post-exercise rehydration drink. British Journal of Nutrition, 98, 173 - 180. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114507695543.
