Let’s talk about ways to get electrolytes when fasting. You may already have learned that intermittent fasting and appetite suppressant mints can be helpful for weight loss, mental health efforts, and more. But did you know that fasting may also lead to a critical loss of electrolytes if you don’t take the proper precautions?
Here are five simple ways to make sure you’re getting the right amount of electrolytes when fasting.
Although fasting can be a useful tool in numerous health situations, it’s important to take steps to avoid electrolyte loss in order to keep from feeling groggy or fatigued during and after your fast.
1. Ensure you have an Adequate Salt Intake to Avoid Excessive Sodium Loss
The main reason you need to keep up with your electrolytes when fasting is that having too few electrolytes can lead to dangerous health conditions such as hyponatremia, or low sodium levels. To avoid excessive sodium loss during your fast, you may want to boost your salt intake with a specially designed saline solution. You can sip on this solution throughout your day.
2. Rehydrate after Exercising and Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
If you exercise on fasting days, it’s important to rehydrate right after and stay hydrated all day long. Make sure that you:
- Chug down at least eight glasses of water per day.
- Keep up your electrolyte when fasting levels by drinking enhanced energy drinks with minimal sugar content.
- Take an easy on-the-go electrolyte supplement that replenishes, hydrate, and energize fast.
- Rehydrate immediately after finishing a workout to avoid further electrolyte loss through your sweat.
- Consume lots of water-rich foods during non-fasting hours to boost up your reserves.
- Sip on herbal tea, sparkling water, or nutrient-rich bone broth throughout your fast.
3. Consider Working Electrolyte Supplements Into Your Fasting Regimen
Regardless of whether you’ve chosen to practice one meal a day vs alternate-day fasting, you may need to work on incorporating an electrolyte supplement into your regimen. Ask your doctor whether taking sodium, potassium, magnesium or another electrolyte supplement would be appropriate for your fasting regimen.
4. Maintain a Well-Rounded Diet Outside of Fasting Hours
Having a balanced diet when you’re not fasting can help fuel your body and ensure that you don’t face dangerous electrolyte loss when you are fasting. Outside of fasting times, make sure you’re getting:
- Essential vitamins and minerals
- A good balance of produce, carbohydrates, and proteins
- Fresh, colorful foods daily and as few processed foods in the mix as possible
- Adequate calories for your health needs
5. Watch Out for Warning Signs and Take Electrolytes as Needed
During your fast, be sure to keep an eye out for the warning signs that you need to take additional electrolytes when fasting. Some of these signs may include:
- An irregular heartbeat
- Excessive fatigue
- Constant confusion or brain fog
- Poor exercise performance
- Poor overall cognitive function
- Headaches and dizziness
Before you embark on your next fast, it’s important to make sure you’ve taken the right precautions in place to avoid serious electrolyte loss. Keeping your electrolyte levels healthy during a fast can help ensure that you stay energetic and nourished until the end of your fasting period. By following these five workable tips, you can help ensure you’re getting enough electrolytes when fasting.
Also, read about the 6 Skills to Foster Personality Development in Kids, here.
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13 Comments
This is a much needed post because these days. People are fasting to loose weight, or doing extensive workout. But they forget the importance of hydration.
Your post has a great reminder. during fasting many of us ( including me) forget to pay attention on maintaining a electrolyte balance and hydration level in body. your tips are so apt and useful. considering Working Electrolyte Supplements Into Your Fasting Regimen sounds like a great option to avoid a state of weakness during fasting.
With the upcoming festive season and Navratri, this post is going to help me a lot for 9 days of fasting. Thanks for sharing these tips which are very much important to follow.
A very much needed post at the right time. My best friend keeps fast during Navratri and every year she falls sick after the festival. I will share this post with her. I am sure it will be helpful for her.
Very informative post indeed. It’ll help me a lot. Durgapuja is approaching with lots of chitchat with friends and neighbours, pandal hopping etc etc. Your tips is going to help me a lot.
Navratri fasting is nearer and the post is at the right time . Keeping body hydrated during fasting is necessary to avoid any short of emergency.
Electrolyte intake is so necessary and more so during fasting. Hydration is of paramount importance, and you have listed down some really easy ways to ensure the proper electrolyte balance.
I usually do not fast but I know that some of my family members do. And it is important to get those electrolytes throughout the day which ensures that they are very hydrated and taken care of during fasting. These are really good tips.
My wife should read this blog post. She used to starve herself to death during fast. I will tell her to keep her electrolyte levels healthy during a fast. This can help ensure that she stays energetic and nourished until the end of her fasting period.
I’m reading a post at the very right time because I’ve just started with intermittent fasting and and and I was glad to read this read this and know about electrolytes.
Not much is spoken about electrolytes although they’re important for a healthy body. Workouts and fasting are good but one must insist on proper hydration and right supplements, if needed.
With Navratri being around the corner, I am sure many people will find this helpful when they will be fasting. I am going to share this with my friends too 🙂
With the festivities, we all keep too many fasts and at times it affects the health as well. I am sure these suggestions given by you will ensure we have kept our body healthy and taken care of electrolytes as well.