An Electrolyte Imbalance
- Muscle Spasms
- When dehydration occurs or potassium and magnesium levels fall abruptly, muscle weakness and spasms are usually some of the first signs.
- Very low potassium levels (hypokalemia) can also cause cramps and constipation. Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) also causes muscle spasms, cramps, abdominal muscle pain and convulsions.
- Digestive Issues
- The muscles within your digestive tract need to contract properly in order to help you go to the bathroom. So either high or low levels of electrolytes can result in diarrhea, constipation, cramping or hemorrhoids. Nausea is also sometimes caused by very low sodium levels (called hyponatremia). This same condition can be followed by headaches, disorientation and respiratory problems when it’s left unresolved.
- Bone Pains
- Very high calcium levels (called hypercalcemia) can result in bone fractures, painful kidney stones, vomiting and constipation. The same condition can also make you feel tired and weak, with trouble concentrating.
- Confusion, Dizziness and Irritability
- When your sodium levels rise too drastically (called hypernatremia), you can become dizzy and weak.
How to Solve an Electrolyte Imbalance
A poor diet that’s high in processed foods containing lots of sodium, but low in other electrolytes like magnesium or potassium. In many cases, a minor electrolyte imbalance can be corrected by simply making diet, cooking more fresh foods at home.
Plenty of vegetables and fruits that provide potassium and magnesium. The best include leafy greens, cruciferous veggies like broccoli or cabbage, starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes or squash, bananas, and avocados.
A diet that’s rich in magnesium or potassium likely can be enough to solve problems like low potassium levels that can lead to blood pressure problems or magnesium deficiency that can contribute to anxiety, restlessness and muscle cramps.
To prevent dehydration and restore electrolytes, focus on these foods —
- Coconut water
- Avocado
- Orange
- Cucumber
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Celery
- Watermelon
- Kiwi
- Kefir
- Pineapple
Another thing to consider is whether you’re consuming enough calcium. With or without eating dairy products, it’s possible to get calcium from leafy greens, other veggies, beans and legumes. To obtain enough calcium naturally without needing supplements, consider adding high-quality and ideally raw dairy like organic probiotic yogurt, and raw milk provide high levels of electrolytes in addition to other important nutrients.
2. Monitor Your Sodium Intake
Sodium is an electrolyte that plays a significant part in the body’s ability to retain or release water, so if your diet is very high in sodium, more water is excreted by the kidneys, and this can cause complications with balancing other electrolytes.
Here’s how sodium works within the body: Essentially, water follows salt, which means if you increase sodium too much, water retention also occurs.
At the same time, the opposite is also true: A loss in sodium results in a loss in water, potentially causing dehydration and extreme thirst. Hypernatremia (the name of the condition that develops when either too much water is lost or too much sodium is obtained) is more common among older adults, people with diabetes and those who eat heavily processed diets.
People can also lose a high level of sodium through diarrhea, taking certain diuretics or laxatives, and exercising to extreme levels and overtraining without staying hydrated — all of which cause problems of their own.
Monitoring how much sodium you consume helps keep symptoms at bay, including bloating, dehydration, weakness, irritability and muscle twitching.
Drinking water and eating mostly whole foods (not the kinds that come in packages!) also ensures you obtain enough other important electrolytes.
At the same time, the opposite is also true: A loss in sodium results in a loss in water, potentially causing dehydration and extreme thirst. Hypernatremia (the name of the condition that develops when either too much water is lost or too much sodium is obtained) is more common among older adults, people with diabetes and those who eat heavily processed diets.
People can also lose a high level of sodium through diarrhea, taking certain diuretics or laxatives, and exercising to extreme levels and overtraining without staying hydrated — all of which cause problems of their own.
Drinking water and eating mostly whole foods (not the kinds that come in packages!) also ensures you obtain enough other important electrolytes.
MAGNESIUM
MAGNESIUM
Candida sufferers are often deficient in magnesium. This is because the Candida yeast interferes with the way that magnesium is taken up in your intestine. A deficiency in magnesium can result in fatigue, immune disorders, leg cramps, headaches, low energy and fibromyalgia.
Candida sufferers are often deficient in magnesium. This is because the Candida yeast interferes with the way that magnesium is taken up in your intestine. A deficiency in magnesium can result in fatigue, immune disorders, leg cramps, headaches, low energy and fibromyalgia.
BIOTIN
Biotin is found in many foods, but Candida sufferers are frequently found to have deficiencies in this important vitamin. This happens for two main reasons. Firstly, one of the body’s major sources of Biotin is actually your intestinal flora. The friendly bacteria in your gut synthesize biotin and release it into your bloodstream. Secondly, deficiency in Biotin (otherwise known as vitamin B7) can also be caused by a course of broad spectrum antibiotics, which is of course a common cause of Candida overgrowth too.
Biotin deficiency can lead to skin rashes, hair loss, depression and lethargy, among other symptoms. It is particularly important for Candida sufferers because it prevents the Candida yeast cells from converting into the pathogenic, fungal form.
Biotin is found in many foods, but Candida sufferers are frequently found to have deficiencies in this important vitamin. This happens for two main reasons. Firstly, one of the body’s major sources of Biotin is actually your intestinal flora. The friendly bacteria in your gut synthesize biotin and release it into your bloodstream. Secondly, deficiency in Biotin (otherwise known as vitamin B7) can also be caused by a course of broad spectrum antibiotics, which is of course a common cause of Candida overgrowth too.
Biotin deficiency can lead to skin rashes, hair loss, depression and lethargy, among other symptoms. It is particularly important for Candida sufferers because it prevents the Candida yeast cells from converting into the pathogenic, fungal form.