Electrolytes in perimenopause and menopause

☕ Welcome to Menobodies!Grab your coffee because today we’re talking about something you probably associate with kids’ sports, endurance athletes and Gatorade commercials…Want this podcast info sent to your inbox? Join the Menobodies newsletter (I promise not to spam you. It’s about 1x/month 🙂)Electrolytes! 💧⚡But could electrolytes actually be helpful during perimenopause and menopause? I’ve been doing some digging to better understand the connection between hormones, hydration and electrolytes—and I’m sharing what I learned along with my own experience.💧 Why Electrolytes During Perimenopause?Estrogen and progesterone play a role in fluid balance, and those hormones can fluctuate significantly during perimenopause.Add in hot flashes and night sweats, and dehydration can become another piece of the puzzle.We’ll talk about:What electrolytes actually areSigns of dehydrationHow hydration may affect muscles, nerves and balanceWhy drinking more water isn’t always the whole answerHydrating foodsElectrolyte drinks and what to look for⚡ What Are Electrolytes?The big ones you’ve probably heard of are sodium, potassium and magnesium, but electrolytes also include chloride, calcium, phosphate and bicarbonate.They help support things like fluid balance, nerve signaling and muscle function.I’ll also share some of the symptoms I noticed for myself—including foot cramps, muscle twitches and changes in my balance—and what made me start paying closer attention to electrolytes.🥤 Do We Need Gatorade?Maybe—but traditional sports drinks can contain a lot of added sugar, which may not be necessary for everyday hydration.We’ll talk about sugar, artificial sweeteners and my own experience giving up my beloved 32-ounce afternoon Diet Dr Pepper. 😂🔎Electrolytes I Tried I’ve experimented with several powdered electrolyte products, including:Celsius HydrationLMNTInstant HydrationI’ll share what I liked, what I noticed and how I compared them based on sodium, potassium, magnesium, sugar and sweeteners.Spoiler: I didn’t find one clear winner, but I did find that electrolytes seemed to help with some of the symptoms I was experiencing.⚠️ Important ReminderThis is my experience and education—not medical advice.Symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps, heart palpitations and balance changes can have many causes, so talk with your healthcare provider before changing your hydration or electrolyte routine.I’ve also included my sources so you can do your own research and bring them to your provider.💬 Have you noticed changes in hydration, muscle cramps or dizziness during perimenopause? Or do you have an electrolyte product you swear by?Come chat with me!📱 Facebook & Instagram: Menobodies📧 [email protected]🛒 Here are the links for the electrolyte products I tried. I’m an Amazon Associate, so purchases through those links may provide a small amount of support for Menobodies and bethlohman.com.Celcius HydrationLMNTInstant Hydration📚 ReferencesWinona Menopause Dehydration: Managing Thirst and Fluid RetentionCalcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium are key electrolytes that support bone health, muscle function, and many other body systems affected by hormonal fluctuations during menopause.  Summary: need to stay hydrated. Hormones cause dehydration.Not always electrolyte additives.Menopause Natural Solutions Electrolytes for the Menopausal TransitionThe electrolyte family includes vital minerals like sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate. Summary: lists what electrolytes do in body and symptoms of being lowWarning: sells her productsElectrolytes & Midlife: What Every Woman Over 40 Should KnowSummary: simple breakdownSuggested electrolytesMenopause Natural Solutions:Electrolytes for the Menopausal TransitionWhat electrolytes do in the bodyLink to what they do in peri/menopauseLMNT Article How Electrolytes Fuel Hormone Balance for WomenGreat article, while it’s by a company, does not push the product, qualified authorSimple readGreat explanationsConnect with Beth:💌 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies🌐 Website: https://www.bethlohman.com/🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here