Issue 168

Get supercharged hydration by jacking up your H20 with electrolytes.

It’s the number-one fuel that keeps our bodies running; water is an imperative for any modern warrior. Now many professional MMA fighters are combining their H20 with electrolyte drinks to increase re-hydration. 

WHAT DO THEY DO?

Electrolyte drinks contain key minerals that our body needs to re-hydrate, prevent muscle cramps and aches and sustain energy and endurance. Some are even sourced from the mineral-rich water found in certain salt lakes. Adding a small dose of electrolyte drink to your water ensures you’re getting these minerals and can reduce the amount of water needed to hydrate by more than 40%.

To put this in perspective, if you normally require two liters of water during your average training session, by adding electrolyte drink into your water you’d only require 1.2 liters. This can give you the edge in between rounds of sparring or a fight because if you drink the same amount of water as usual, you’re getting more minerals into your body for recovery enabling you to go out and fight harder.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Electrolyte drinks contain four key electrolyte minerals:

1) Magnesium

Essential for all energy conversion, muscle function and nerve conduction. If you don’t get enough into your body you can suffer from muscle tension, muscle spasms, muscle cramps and muscle fatigue.

2) Potassium

Again, it is essential for muscle function and nerve conduction. It also helps the kidneys to flush out waste. A lack of potassium can result in damaged muscles and poor reflexes – problems you don’t want to experience in the cage.

3) Sodium

This is used throughout the body as a mechanism to retain water and to effectively absorb and transport it for re-hydration.

4) Chloride

Essential for oxygen exchange, digestion, water balance and pH balance.

WHICH BRAND SHOULD I CHOOSE?

There are many brands of electrolyte drink on the market. The most popular choice for MMA athletes are Elete, SIS and Clif due to the variation of products and convenience.

Available in liquid, powder and tablets, MMA fighters can easily transport these to and from the gym.

THE SCIENCE

For the science swots, these four minerals are called electrolyte minerals because they make liquid electrically conductive. Our bodies run on electrical impulses. Every time our muscles move, it’s through electrical conduction. Adding these four minerals to water will help muscles function much more effectively. To put it simply, electrolytes will charge you up so you’re ready for the fight of your life.