An electrolyte is a mineral that carries a charge when dissolved is a fluid such as water or blood. When you ingest food or beverage, it is broken down into smaller parts. Some are broken into neutral atoms or molecules, and some are broken into charged atoms or molecules. If they have a charge, they are called ions, or electrolytes. The electrolytes of the body are:

Sodium (Na+)
Potassium (K+)
Calcium (Ca2+)
Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
Magnesium (Mg2+)
Chloride (Cl-)
Phosphate (PO4 3-)

The human body is a bioelectric machine, and is capable of producing energy equivalent to a 100 watts light bulb. Electric currents in the body are used by different functions in the body such as conducting nerve impulses, controlling metabolism, and regulating tissue and organ function.

Electrolyte balance is crucial for normal human functioning and helps maintain fluid levels in cells. If the electrolyte concentration in a cell is too high, fluid will move into that cell via osmosis. If the electrolyte concentration is too low, fluid moves out of the cell. This is why your pee is very yellow when you are dehydrated; the body is trying to maintain electrolyte balance and dumps electrolytes to restore balance.

The kidneys are the main organ that filters electrolytes and maintains balance. If this system is disrupted, dysfunctions can occur. Let’s look at salt, since it’s the main electrolyte. Too much salt (hypernatremia) can cause thirst, confusion, irritability, fatigue, spasms or muscle twitching. Too little (hyponatremia) can cause dizziness, headache, spasms, and even seizures or coma. Sounds serious, but the good news is that it’s relatively easy to maintain balance as long as your kidneys are functioning well. You can use a urine color chart to monitor your hydration status:

But wait, I thought alcohol dehydrates you, so why does my pee turn clear when I have alcohol? It is because the kidneys are guided by hormones secreted from the pituitary gland in your brain. Alcohol is able to cross the blood brain barrier and disrupt the hormone signaling. ADH is a hormone that tells the kidneys to hold on to water, and alcohol inhibits this hormone. So the whole function of the kidney is altered and the body starts wrongly dumping water. Then in the morning, when the alcohol is no longer affecting your brain, the kidneys start working normal again and recognize a gross electrolyte imbalance and dump salts, making your pee very yellow. Now you are depleted in water and electrolytes, so you become very thirsty and crave salty food. This is how brunch was born. Drinking water with every alcoholic beverage can help buffer this to an extent.

References:

Fluid and Electrolyte Balance. (2020, October 01). Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html

Nguyen, T. (2014, March 24). This Flashlight Is Powered by the Touch of Your Hand. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-flashlight-is-powered-by-the-touch-of-your-hand-180950226/

User, S. (n.d.). The Science of Bioelectricity. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.e-qure.com/the-science-of-bioelectricity/the-science-of-bioelectricity

What Exactly is an Electrolyte?