TL;DR — Electrolytes don’t directly give you energy, but they do support ATP production and regulate fluid balance, both of which can help you feel more energized.
The 3 p.m. slump is hitting you hard AF. You’re tired, you’re zoning out on Zoom, and you’re probably a little cranky too. So what do you do? Drink another coffee, slam an energy drink, or grab a sugary snack. These give you a quick jolt of energy, but they don’t address one of the most common causes of fatigue: dehydration.
That’s where electrolytes come in.
Electrolytes won’t jolt you awake in the same way as a nitro cold brew or an energy drink. That said, electrolytes play key roles in hydration, hormone production, muscle function, and ATP synthesis—all of which indirectly support healthy energy levels.
In this blog, we break down the link between electrolytes and energy and how you can use them to fight fatigue.
Do Electrolytes Give You Energy?
Electrolytes don’t give you energy on their own, since they don’t contain calories. But they do support bodily functions that help your body produce energy. Those functions include:
- Proper hydration
- ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production
- Muscle function
- Nerve function
- Hormone regulation
- Blood pressure regulation
Your main sources of energy are carbohydrates and fats, which provide stored energy in food in the form of calories. From here, your body uses that stored energy to create usable energy called ATP.
(Still with us? Cool.)
Electrolytes (like potassium, magnesium, chloride, and calcium) are essential minerals with electrical charges. They support the cellular reactions that convert stored energy into usable energy. So even if you have enough calories in your system, you still need electrolytes to help your body make use of them.
Bottom line: Consuming electrolytes isn’t guaranteed to give you energy. But if you have an electrolyte imbalance, there’s a solid chance you’ll feel sluggish, tired, or just “off.”
5 Ways Electrolytes Support Health Energy Levels
From hydration to hormone regulation, here are five reasons you need electrolytes to keep your energy levels up.
1. Hydration
Dehydration can decrease your blood volume and blood pressure, making it hard to stay alert. Accordingly, hydration is one of the easiest ways to fight fatigue. But you need more than plain water to rehydrate—you need electrolytes to help your cells absorb and retain the fluids you drink.
2. ATP Production
Potassium, magnesium, sodium, and other electrolytes support the cellular reactions that produce ATP, the “energy currency” of your cells. Without them, you couldn’t turn the food you eat into energy.
3. Nervous System Function
Your nerve cells (AKA neurons) need electrolytes to transmit electrical impulses for communication. If you’re running low on electrolytes, your brain cells can’t talk to each other, leading to symptoms like lethargy, headache, and fatigue.
4. Hormone Regulation
Electrolytes, specifically sodium, play a big role in maintaining proper levels of hormones such as cortisol (the stress hormone). If your sodium levels get too low, your cortisol levels can spike, leading to fatigue and trouble falling asleep.
5. Muscle Function
If you’re feeling weak and sluggish, your muscles might be running low on electrolytes. Sodium and potassium help regulate muscle contractions, including your heartbeat. Accordingly, replenishing your electrolyte levels can give your body the shot of life it needs.
Does Dehydration Cause Fatigue?
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of fatigue, even in mild or moderate cases. When you lose fluid and electrolytes faster than you replace them, your blood pressure drops, reducing circulation to your brain. Low blood flow to your brain = low energy.
Dehydration also deprives your muscles of the nutrients they need to flex their skills (literally). Accordingly, you might feel weaker than normal.
Lastly, dehydration can jack up your sleep cycle and prevent you from getting the rest you need to feel energized.
Bottom line: If you want to stay alert, stay hydrated. No amount of sleep or caffeine can compensate for being dehydrated.
Fight Fatigue with WaterBoy
If your energy levels are on “E,” you don’t need to drink another coffee—you need to replenish your electrolytes. Don’t take our word for it though. Two clinical trials (one with men, one with women) found that young people who were mildly dehydrated were far more likely to feel tired.
So, how do you hydrate to ensure you don’t turn into a zombie in the afternoon? Not by sipping plain water, ya dingus. If you want to boost your energy levels, you gotta boost your electrolyte levels with WaterBoy.
Each stick of WaterBoy Weekend Recovery is packed with 3,200 mg of key electrolytes for rapid hydration. Plus, you get 500% of your daily value of vitamin B12—another nutrient that’s essential for energy production.
Whether you’re exhausted from hitting the bars or the barbells, electrolytes are the wake-up call your body and brain are craving.
Hydration + Weekend Recovery
$24.99
💧 3,200mg of electrolytes 🚫 0g of sugar 🤢 raw ginger extract for nausea 😌 l-theanine to help you chill ⚡️ vitamins to help you bounce back … read more
