Doctor shares a change to how you drink water that can boost energy and performance during exercise

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are essential minerals that help the body rehydrate, making them an important tool when taken around exercise.

Dr Anastasiades said: "Electrolytes are essential minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium. They are often associated with exercise due to their critical roles in nerve and muscle function and the fact that fluids and electrolytes are lost through sweat, impacting physical performance.

"Electrolytes are particularly important during exercise, as you lose them when you sweat, so taking electrolyte supplements can help improve both physical performance and recovery. But they aren’t just for athletes, they also matter on a day-to-day basis because hydration underpins your energy, focus and overall mood.

"What is less well known is that electrolytes also support 100s of different biological processes, including immune system function and energy metabolism.

"Importantly, we lose electrolytes throughout the day, not just during sweaty workouts, so we need to keep our electrolyte levels topped up daily to ensure our bodies function optimally."

Indeed, a study published in MDPI looked at the effects of electrolyte supplements on the body during exercise. It compared electrolyte drinks to plain water and found that electrolyte intake better maintained hydration and physiological balance.

What’s more, the improved fluid retention helped support exercise capacity and recovery compared to drinking water alone, showing their value for endurance and sustained performance.

This is particularly relevant for those training at higher intensities or for longer durations, where sweat loss is greater and hydration needs increase.

Hydrating with electrolytes is not just important when exercising, however, as those who enjoy an active lifestyle could get more out of the supplement than they realise.

Dr Anastasiades continued: "Despite an ever-increasing focus on health and fitness, fast-paced, high-stress, and increasingly active lifestyles lead many people to suffer from tiredness, low energy and reduced focus. What many don’t know is that one of the main causes of these symptoms is dehydration."

Even mild dehydration can affect Britons in a number of ways. This includes difficulties concentrating, weaker muscle contractions, earlier fatigue during exercise, and distorted hunger signals, among other drawbacks.

So how can you combat this? The doctor said: "Combatting dehydration is not just about how much water you drink, but how effectively your body uses it. That’s where electrolytes come in. Certain formulations - like Phizz – use the power of electrolytes to help your body absorb and retain fluids more efficiently.

"Electrolyte-based hydration formulas offer a powerful solution to dehydration. When sodium is paired with a small amount of glucose, it helps increase the speed and efficiency of water absorption in the body. This supports hydration during or immediately after exercise, while also making hydration more effective in everyday life.

"This is why electrolytes are increasingly becoming part of people’s daily routines. By harnessing the power of electrolytes, we can stave off dehydration to improve our energy and focus. Advanced formulas, such as Phizz, also include other vitamins and minerals to provide a great-tasting daily supplement to support overall wellbeing."