Why are electrolytes important to the body?

Answer 1

Electrolytes are important because they enable cells to carry electrical impulses to other cells and across themselves. They help regulate how and where fluids are distributed throughout the body.

Answer 2

Sooooo many reasons.

First, an electrolyte is, very strictly, a dissolved ionic compound (a dissolved salt). That having been said, I'll first give the general reason for having them in the body and then give specific examples.

In general, they are required due to something called "osmotic pressure". Cell membranes are something called "semi-permeable", which is a fancy way of saying they let some things in but not others. Think of it like a sieve. Big things don't go through, small things don't even care. Now, when you have a lot of dissolved salt on one end of a semipermeable membrane and none on the other, water will flow from the area of low concentration to the area of high concentration for reasons of thermodynamics (I really don't feel like getting into that here - just trust me on this one), but the salts are too big to move. This will continue until the two sides of the membrane have equal concentrations. Let's say that you have a semi-permeable membrane bag with salty water and put it in completely distilled water (no dissolved salts). That bag will soak up water until its concentration is equal to that of its environment. This, of course, will never happen, so the bag will eventually burst. Same thing happens to your cells in "pure" water (pure is in quotes for reasons I won't get into now, but whatever).

But that doesn't explain why the salts are there in the first place. Basically, it's like this. Potassium, sodium, and chloride ions are used in cell signaling, especially in the nervous system. Calcium is used to "fire" muscle cells. Calcium and phosphate both combine to form bone. Nitrates are used throughout the body in forms of cell signaling. Different ions are used to keep the pH of the body at the right level so that enzymes can properly function.

Note that this isn't why you drink electrolytes in sports drinks. That's to replenish them, and there is significant debate as to the efficacy of that. If you aren't working out and sweating like crazy, you can probably get all the electrolytes you need from your food.

Answer 3

Electrolytes are essential for the body's health and survival. Electrolytes move throughout the body maintaining a fluid balance, which is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses, and the contraction and relaxation of muscles.

Answer 4

Besides osmotic pressure, electrolytes control nerve conduction and muscle contraction.

Answer 5

Electrolytes replenish your body. You need to have these when exercising especially.

Answer 6

oryour heart will not like it and you will go wobbly and ultimately die

Answer 7

Electrolytes are electrically charged ions found in our blood and plasma