Can I drink electrolyte water every day? Experts explain applicable scenarios and health risks

Q: Recently, the consumption of electrolyte water has continued to rise. Functional drinks, which were originally mostly used in sports scenes, are now entering the daily lives of the public. At the same time, questions such as "Can electrolyte water really become a 'water substitute'?" have also attracted attention. Why is electrolyte water so popular? Can I drink it every day?

Answer: Ruan Guangfeng, a member of the Health Communication Branch of the Chinese Association of Preventive Medicine, said that electrolyte water is essentially drinking water with added electrolytes. The key to why electrolyte water is so popular is that it better meets the body’s hydration needs in hot weather. During the high temperatures in summer, the human body sweats a lot and loses not only water, but also sodium, potassium and other important electrolytes that maintain the body's operation. Simply drinking boiled water can only replenish water. Drinking a large amount will also dilute the electrolyte concentration in the body, which may cause dizziness, fatigue, muscle soreness and other discomforts.

Electrolyte water is popular for many reasons. On the one hand, residents’ health awareness has increased, and the number of fitness groups has expanded. Everyone has gradually realized that sweating also loses electrolytes in addition to water; on the other hand, the market for traditional packaged water and sweet drinks is becoming saturated, and the industry needs to find differentiated tracks and add commercial capital to vigorously promote it, further increasing the market popularity of electrolyte water.

Electrolyte water is not a universal drink

Ruan Guangfeng said that electrolyte water is a hydration solution for specific scenarios and is not a substitute for daily drinks. It is really suitable for scenes such as high temperature exposure, strenuous exercise, and people who sweat and lose a lot of water due to fever and severe diarrhea. Urban white-collar workers sit and work for long periods of time and students attend classes every day. Their sweating is limited and there is no need to drink.

Long-term excessive drinking will cause excessive sodium and potassium intake and increase metabolic burden. Ruan Guangfeng said that the dietary sodium intake of Chinese residents generally exceeds the standard. Drinking extra electrolyte water every day will further increase the sodium intake. People with high blood pressure, renal insufficiency, and cardiovascular disease have weak electrolyte metabolism capabilities, so they must control the amount they drink and follow doctor's advice.

No need to follow the trend of consumption

Currently, the quality of electrolyte water on the market is uneven, and consumers can easily fall into the trap of conceptual marketing. Some Internet celebrity products are branded as electrolyte water, but the electrolyte content is very low and the sugar content is quite high. Ruan Guangfeng reminded consumers to carefully distinguish when purchasing, focus on the ingredient list and nutritional label, and give priority to regular products with reasonable proportions and low sugar.

Ruan Guangfeng believes that in the future, a large number of new electrolyte water products will flood into the market. For ordinary consumers, there is no need to follow the consumption trend. The key is to understand the applicable scenarios and make rational choices.

(Economic Daily/our reporter Wu Jiajia)