Parenting Articles Archive related to Electrolyte Balance

Electrolyte Balance

Electrolyte balance ensures the proper inflow of nutrients and proper outflow of toxins from body cells. It also maintains the body’s pH levels; regulates the amount of water in the body; and helps the brain, heart, nerves, and muscles to function properly. Electrolytes are minerals in the human body that have an electric charge. They are retrieved from the foods people eat and the fluids people drink. Examples of electrolytes are chlorine, phosphate, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Electrolyte balance can be measured by the amount of water in the body. Both dehydration and overhydration indicate a compromised electrolyte balance, which may cause some instability in the major organs. If, for instance, a child suffers from diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating, he or she should get medical attention because they have an electrolyte imbalance that is causing the body to malfunction.

July 14, 2018April 13, 2020

Research Findings

Why Children Like Salty Foods

Salt intake has been widely studied in animals. It is not known if similar mechanisms could occur in humans, but in animals, long-term increases in salt preference are caused by sodium depletion, pregnancy, and lactation. Increased salt preference in animals also occurs after perinatal loss of minerals and fluids. Animal