You will notice that they all have an electrical charge (hence the name electrolyte). These electrical signatures create a “circuit” (a path around which electricity flows), which moves nutrients to the areas that need them the most. Or, as we stated in our article on Celtic Sea Salt, “Charged minerals go right to where they are needed.”

But just as important, electrolytes are inextricably involved in the electrical impulses operating our brains and nervous systems.

Without electrolytes, we cease to function and die. An imbalance (having too much of one or more electrolytes) can also be dangerous.

This is the connection between sea water and amniotic fluid, and the secret behind the healing powers built into Celtic Sea Salt and Coconut Water. Amniotic fluid and sea water carry electrolytes in perfect balance. No salt has a closer constituency to sea water/amniotic fluid than Celtic Sea Salt. The electrolytes and tiny amount of glucose in Coconut Water is so well balanced that Coconut Water can be used as plasma in an IV drip.

This also should tell us why the average person is not very healthy. In one lecture I attended a few years back, I learned that 90% of Americans suffer from either an imbalance of minerals or from a lack of minerals. The good news is that the human animal, with proper nutrition and minerals, can start to bounce back within 30 days.

We’ve mentioned in another article at this site how our cell membranes use cholesterol to create hydrophobic (water hating) bonds. Without these bonds, we’d all melt in a rain shower. Even more interesting is the simple fact that our cell membranes are the wiring systems that carry the electrical charges from electrolytes, which maintain our steady voltage. And perhaps even more interesting, if you’ll excuse the digression, is that each living cell gives off a light known as bioluminescence, but that’s a whole nother ballgame.

As you can see, the cell membrane is not just an overcoat that holds all the good stuff inside the cell. It is so important to the overall function of the human body that we must now bring in a short, but important, digression:

Trans fats resemble cholesterol. Thus, in our bodies, they take the place of cholesterol because the body can’t tell the two fats apart.

The body cannot detox trans fats. We just have to wait and wait and wait till cholesterol slowly takes the place of trans fats and they are excreted. But while trans fats take the place of cholesterol in our cell membranes, our bodies are not functioning very well. This is a major cause of insulin insensitivity, since trans fats are a bit tougher than cholesterol and block the insulin receptors. Additionally, they don’t carry an electrical charge as well as cholesterol.

This is why no amount of trans fats should ever be ingested by a living creature.

Nerves and muscles respond to electrical impulses. For a muscle to contract, it needs calcium, sodium, and potassium. Muscles are constantly working, even when you’re sitting. Remember your heart? It’s a muscle.

Electrolytes are so important that the body has quite a few mechanisms and systems to regulate their concentrations, though mainly through the actions of hormones and the kidneys.

Without the proper concentration of electrolytes, a muscle won’t fully contract or could contract too much, or could even go into a spasm.

Because a living creature's functions are biochemical and bioelectrical, nearly every action, reaction, and interaction in the body is associated with an electrical charge, and that charge is supplied by electrolytes.

When you work out, you sweat. When you sweat you lose electrolytes, mainly sodium (sweat is salty) and potassium, but you also lose the others, though in smaller quantities.

Obviously, when you sweat, you also lose water. Now here’s something of a warning: drinking too much water can cause a dangerous situation because you can wash away your electrolytes.

There is a disorder that looks like an addiction to water, called polydipsia. It is caused by an extreme thirst. Diabetics can suffer from this. Polydipsia can lead to death, as electrolytes are washed away.

Here are things that can cause a shortage or imbalance (overage) of electrolytes:

Symptoms of a shortage of electrolytes (or an imbalance of electrolytes) are as follows:

Thus, in a fully stocked first aid kit, you should always have a can of Coconut Water and some Celtic Sea Salt.

If you get a regular checkup, most of the time an electrolyte panel is completed as part of routine blood-work.

So, for those of you who are going to go for a workout, again let me hit some highlights.

If you’re going to do a workout that will build up lactic acid, then you’ll need some bicarbonate. Here is a list of mineral waters and their bicarbonate amounts I found at http://www.mgwater.com/bicarb.shtml

San Pellegrino: 219.6 mg per litre
Perrier: 390 mg per litre
Vittel: 402 mg per litre
Campilho: 1479 mg per litre
Qu zac: 1685.4 mg per litre
San Narciso: 2165.5 mg per litre

I cannot vouch for their taste since I’ve only tried the Perrier water.

And to rehydrate during and after the workout, you’re going to need some Coconut Water.

Nothing will rehydrate your blood faster. Nothing.