For centuries, humans have relied on water to keep us not only hydrated, but to literally also keep us alive.
But now, Gen Z is here, and many of them are claiming that regular water is no longer good enough.
Before you get ahead of yourself, this is not me saying that you should give up drinking water. It’s still necessary to keep you alive – Gen Z have apparently just found a way to jazz it up.
Regular water is good enough for most people, but not everyone (Getty Stock Photo)
Coffee just isn’t cutting it
Lots of people love a coffee in the morning to help wake themselves up, but one TikToker, @chloelavin0, declared she’d found a ‘new’ morning coffee as she shared a clip of herself sipping on a pink, ice-filled beverage.
She’s far from the only one to add something new to their water, as another heath-conscious TikTok user claimed people drinking water after the gym were ‘not properly hydrating’ as they were still losing water through sweat.
We lose electrolytes through sweat (Getty Stock Photo)
What are electrolytes?
This ‘new’ addition to water isn’t actually a new creation – electrolytes are naturally found in the blood, but we can get them as a supplement substance too.
The NHS explains that electrolytes are made up of salts and minerals such as sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.
We get electrolytes from what we eat and drink, and excess electrolytes are filtered out of our bodies by our kidneys in our urine. We can also lose electrolytes when we sweat.
With this in mind, the aforementioned gym-going TikToker wasn’t wrong when he said that drinking water wasn’t always enough after a gym session, as it wouldn’t necessarily replace your electrolytes. This is where the supplements come in.
How are Gen Z getting more electrolytes?
In order to ensure they’re getting more electrolytes, Gen Z content creators have filmed themselves adding dissolvable tablets and powder into their water.
However, this increased intake isn’t limited to post-workouts.
TikToker Chloe captioned her video, ‘Morning electrolytes always’, indicating it’s a regular part of her routine, while another user commented: “Changing to electrolytes first thing change my lifeeeee!”
Morning electrolytes always 💗 #electrolytes #nutrition @HIGH5SportsNutrition #nutritiontips
♬ original sound – sp33dsongsx
Do we actually need more electrolytes?
While it is important to replenish lost electrolytes, taking supplements isn’t necessary to keep yourself at a healthy level of hydration.
Edward Mather, a nutritionist at Fuel Hub, told the Daily Mail: “The point at which supplementing electrolytes becomes necessary is if the individual partakes in prolonged or intense exercise, they live in a hot climate or they have an illness where fluid is lost from the body.
“For most people, drinking water throughout the day is enough to meet their hydration needs. This is based on the assumption they consume a balanced diet containing electrolyte-rich foods and partake in light physical activity.”
Riya Lakhani-Kanji, a nutritionist, doubled down on this advice as she told Vogue: “Too many electrolytes can be as harmful as too few, so moderation and balance are key.”
Electrolyte supplements can come in powder and tablets (Getty Stock Photo)
How do you tell if you are low on electrolytes?
The Cleveland Clinic explains that symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance can depending on the severity and electrolyte type, but they can include:
Confusion and irritabilityDiarrhea or constipationFatigueHeadachesIrregular or fast heart rateMuscle cramps, muscle spasms or weaknessNausea and vomitingNumbness or tingling in limbs, fingers and toes
