Electrolytes and IBD

I have mentioned electrolytes before, in my post on colonoscopy prep, and in my earth quake preparedness post. They are important, and anyone who has ever been dehydrated will probably agree with me here. And now that it’s summer, they are more important than ever.

But what are they?

Electrolytes are minerals in the body that carry an electric charge (zappy-zap!) and are essential for your body to work properly. These minerals include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.

Electrolytes regulate fluid balance, they transmit nerve impulses (such as muscle function, reflexes, contraction and relaxation of muscles), and it helps you maintain a proper ph balance (so no need for any new age base diets! If our body works ok, it takes care of this stuff all by itself.)

Every day we lose electrolytes, through sweating, urine, and, here is where it becomes interesting for us from team IBD, diarrhea and vomiting. When we lose too many electrolytes and can’t refuel, it can lead to an imbalance of electrolytes in the body, which can cause a range of symptoms and health problems. I will go out on a limb here and say that most people with IBD (and IBS, or the stomach flu) and diarrhea will have felt lightheaded, they thought their entire body was one giant cramp, and the next day, their legs were aching. If you were really un-lucky, a little bit of heart arrhythmia happens. And if you happen to have an ostomy or a J-pouch, making sure you’re not dehydrated can be a part-time job.

I personally swear by my beloved broths for electrolyte repletion, but I don’t always carry broth with me (I really should though, lol!), and broth may not be everyone’s favorite taste (you philistines!). On a practical level, if you are sick, you are often unable to take in fluids without throwing them up again right away, which is why I always have pills. Oddly, I can swallow any pill, at any time. What a weird superpower to have.

So I generally keep some electrolyte drinks, powders, or pills handy- I won’t recommend any particular brand, because I know that people are particular about taste and texture, so read up! I also need to add, that I am not a medical doctor, so please, always check with your medical provider first.