Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. This content should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition or health issue. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

If you get tired or struggle to concentrate when it’s hot out, you may need more minerals. Mineral loss happens fast in the heat. It has a surprising impact on your wellbeing—and you may not even realize it’s happening. 

Here’s why minerals are extra important in hot weather, and how to make sure you meet your mineral needs, all summer long.

Part of the reason is heat. You sweat more and breathe harder as the temperature rises, and as you lose water, you also lose the electrolytes it contains. You may not realize it, but over the course of a summer day, you lose significant magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium—and drinking water doesn’t replenish them. 

Most of us are also more active during the summer. We walk instead of driving, do yard work or gardening, exercise outdoors, socialize more, and so on. All that physical activity increases your body’s mineral demands. Exercise in the heat is especially taxing; it depletes your mineral stores within a few minutes. [*]

And during summer, water alone isn’t enough. You need minerals too. In a 2019 study, people stayed in the heat until they developed an electrolyte imbalance. A mineral-rich drink rapidly rehydrated them and restored their physical and mental function. Plain water was much less effective. [*]

Mineral Loss Saps Your Mental & Physical Performance

So it’s hot outside and you’ve lost some electrolytes. Why does it matter?

Electrolyte loss leaves you dehydrated, which is a bigger deal than most people realize. Even minor dehydration has a measurable (and surprising) impact on your performance. 

Hydration is especially key for brain function. Your brain is 75% water, and your brain cells need electrolytes to fire correctly. [*] As you lose water and electrolytes, your brain slows down. 

• A 2019 study found that mildly dehydrated students performed 10-30% worse on attention and memory tests and made more errors during cognitive games. [*] They also had lower mood and greater self-rated fatigue. 
  
  

• A 2012 study found that just 2% dehydration led to significant deficits in concentration, memory, and physical coordination. [*] 
  

Electrolytes also prevent fatigue. Losing them saps your energy, leaving you more fragile on hot days:

• A 2014 study found that mildly dehydrated people had a 16% decrease in muscle strength during a workout. [*] Drinking electrolyte-rich water returned their strength to normal. 
  
  

• In a 2010 study, mildly dehydrated people reported greater mental fatigue and lower overall energy. [*] 
  
  

• In a 2001 study, people doing endurance training fatigued 17% faster when dehydrated. [*]
  

Finally, electrolytes prevent muscle cramps. When you’re hydrated, your muscles can contract and relax with ease, by trading calcium and potassium ions. [*] But as you lose calcium and potassium, your muscles can’t relax properly. They can get “stuck” in a contracted state, causing a muscle cramp. [*][*]

Mineral loss has a surprising (and often hidden) impact on your performance. If you’re skeptical, try hydrating with a good mineral formula this summer. You may be shocked by how much better you feel. 

Kids Need Minerals During Summer, Too

Adults aren’t the only ones who need more minerals during summer. In fact, children are even more vulnerable to mineral loss in hot weather. 

Because kids are smaller, they have less total water and electrolytes in their bodies. That means losing even a small amount of water has a bigger impact on their wellbeing. Children are also often more active in the heat, and less likely to realize they’re becoming dehydrated and seek help from an adult. [*]

If your kids play sports or spend a lot of time outdoors, make sure you keep them hydrated when it’s hot out. Again, water isn’t enough—they need lots of electrolytes, in addition to fluids. 

Replenish Lost Electrolytes with BEAM Minerals

A lot of people turn to sports drinks or powdered electrolytes during summer. 

The trouble is that sports drinks are typically full of sugar and additives, like artificial colors and flavors. Powdered electrolytes, meanwhile, often use salt-based minerals, which are cheap to manufacture but have low absorption. 

At BEAM Minerals, we offer a simpler, more effective way to replenish your electrolytes. Our Electrolyze™ liquid mineral formula contains every electrolyte your body needs, in an optimal ratio, with close to 100% bioavailability. 

We make things easy. When it’s hot outside, take a half ounce of Electrolyze™ in the morning, then mix another half ounce into a water bottle and drink it throughout the day. It has no taste and helps refill your electrolyte stores, even on days when you’re active. You can do the same for your kids, especially when they’re playing sports or spending hours outdoors. 

If you want to feel your best this summer, try adding Electrolyze™ to your daily routine. It’s one of the simplest ways to keep yourself hydrated, all summer long.