Fructose

• ions that move to the cathode (cations) are positively charged
• ions that move to the anode (anions) are negatively charged
For example, your body fluids -- blood, plasma, interstitial fluid (fluid between cells) -- are like
seawater and have a high concentration of sodium chloride (table salt, or NaCl). The electrolytes
in sodium chloride are:
• sodium ion (Na+) - cation
• chloride ion (Cl-) - anion
As for your body, the major electrolytes are as follows:
• sodium (Na+)
• potassium (K+)
• chloride (Cl-)
• calcium (Ca2+)
• magnesium (Mg2+)
• bicarbonate (HCO3-)
• phosphate (PO42-)
• sulfate (SO42-)
Electrolytes are important because they are what your cells (especially nerve, heart, muscle)
use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (nerve
impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and to other cells. Your kidneys work to keep
the electrolyte concentrations in your blood constant despite changes in your body. For example,
when you exercise heavily, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium, magnesium
and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of
your body fluids constant.
So, many sports drinks have sodium chloride or potassium chloride added to them. They also have
sugar and flavorings to provide your body with extra energy and to make the drink taste better.
They most always have the wrong balance of electrolytes and thus these sport drinks create more
damage. Avoid them. You can make a better one with using 100% fruit juice rich in natural Fructose
as one part juice to two parts good water.
Another example where electrolyte drinks are important is when infants/children have chronic
vomiting or diarrhea, perhaps due to intestinal flu viruses. When children vomit or have diarrhea,
they lose electrolytes. Again, these electrolytes and the fluids must be replaced to prevent
dehydration and seizures. Therefore, drinks such as Pedialyte have sodium and potassium in them
like the sports drinks do. However, pediatricians do not recommend giving sports drinks to a sick
child! Sports drinks have much higher sugar concentrations than Pedialyte and the high sugar is
not a proper treatment.
Electrolytes are the smallest of chemicals that allow the body to work. Electrolytes such as sodium,
potassium, and others are critical in allowing cells to function. They generate electricity, contract
muscles, move water and fluids within the body, and participate in myriad other activities.
The concentration of electrolytes in the body is controlled by a variety of hormones, most of
which are manufactured in the kidney and the adrenal glands. Sensors in specialized kidney cells
monitor the amount of sodium, potassium, and water in the bloodstream. The body functions in a
very narrow range of normal, and it is hormones like renin (made in the kidney), angiotensin (from
the lung, brain and heart), aldosterone (from the adrenal gland), and antidiuretic hormone (from
the pituitary) that keep the electrolyte balance within those limits.
Keeping electrolyte concentrations in balance also includes stimulating the thirst mechanism when
the body gets dehydrated. The thirst mechanism weakens somewhere between the age of 15 to
25. The hypothalamus where the thirst mechanism is most focused burns out and our bodies do
not properly provide the thirst signal. So most of us live in a sub-clinical state of dehydration. This
can lead to many disorders such as hypernatremia. We need to make a conscious effort to drink
more water.
Sodium (Na)
Sodium is most often found outside the cell, in the plasma (the non-cell part) of the bloodstream.
It is a significant part of water regulation in the body, since water goes where the sodium goes. If
there is too much sodium in the body, perhaps due to high salt intake in the diet (salt is sodium
plus chloride), it is excreted by the kidney, and water follows.
Sodium is an important electrolyte that helps with electrical signals in the body, allowing muscles
to fire and the brain to work. It is half of the electrical pump at the cell level that keeps sodium in
the plasma and potassium inside the cell.
Conditions of Sodium Imbalance
Hypernatremia (hyper= too much + natr= sodium + emia=in the blood) is usually associated with
dehydration, and instead of having too much sodium, there is too little water. This water loss can
occur from illnesses with vomiting or diarrhea, excessive sweating from exercise or fever, or from
drinking fluid that has too high concentrations of salt.
Hyponatremia (hypo=too little) is caused by water intoxication (drinking so much water that it
dilutes the sodium in the blood and overwhelms the kidney's compensation mechanism) or by
a syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). SIADH can be associated
with illnesses like pneumonia, brain diseases, cancer, thyroid problems, and some medications.
Symptoms of Sodium Imbalance
Too much or too little sodium can cause cells to malfunction. Lethargy, confusion, weakness,
swelling, seizures, and coma are some symptoms that can occur with hyper - or hyponatremia.
The treatment of these conditions is dependent on the underlying cause, but it is important for
the healthcare provider to correct the sodium imbalance relatively slowly. Rapid correction can
cause abnormal flow of water into or out of cells. This is especially important to prevent brain cell
damage.
When to stop Salt.
We should get three times more potassium than sodium and this is not the case with over
consumption of salt today. Use more paprika (rich in Potassium) and less salt.
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