Drinking plenty of water is one of the best ways to beat the summer heat and avoid dehydration. But while water (H2O) is widely associated with hydration, there are more elements involved in keeping our bodies hydrated than just hydrogen and oxygen. These other elements, collectively known as electrolytes, come in the form of inorganic minerals that carry either a positive or negative electric charge. Electrolytes are present in your blood as well as in other body fluids.

The interplay between electrolytes and your cells is crucial to keeping your body hydrated. Your body actively moves electrolytes in and out of cells to ensure that water levels remain balanced inside and out. This process of adjusting fluid and electrolyte levels is called osmosis, and it is what prevents your cells from taking up or losing too much water and becoming overhydrated or dehydrated. How well this balancing mechanism works depends not just on your overall health but also on your consumption of fluids and electrolytes.

In this feature article, you will learn all about electrolytes, how these essential minerals help with hydration, and the best ways you can maintain optimal fluid and electrolyte balance this summer.