Electrolytes for athletes
People who exercise regularly and intensively (for example, endurance athletes such as cyclists and runners, as well as rowers, tennis players and team athletes) benefit from electrolyte supplementation. Elete™ Sports Minerals provides natural supplementation of these electrolytes, without sugars, sweeteners and calories.

What exactly are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are minerals dissolved in a liquid in ionic form (that is, not in association with other elements, but as separate electrically charged particles). For example, table salt (sodium chloride) when dissolved in water is split into the ions Na+ (positively charged sodium) and Cl- (negatively charged chloride). In this way, minerals also occur in our bodies, dissolved in intra- and extracellular fluids such as blood plasma, and play a role in various processes. Examples of important electrolytes are sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride. When a person sweats a lot, a lot of sodium is lost and, to a lesser extent, other electrolytes, because they come out with the perspiration fluid.

Figure 1: Electrolytes (right) are minerals dissolved in a liquid in ionic form (i.e., not connected to other elements, but as separate electrically charged particles).

Fluid and electrolyte balance.
The body loses sodium (and chloride) primarily through sweat because sodium is primarily extracellular (such as in the bloodstream) and potassium and magnesium are primarily intracellular. It is important for the body to maintain proper fluid balance as well as electrolyte balance. If an athlete drinks only water to compensate for fluid loss, but does not supplement sodium in the process, then the blood will become "diluted" and the relative concentration of sodium ions will decrease. This can affect normal physiological function. Therefore, it is important to also take extra sodium during exercise to replenish the sodium lost. Even better is to also supplement chloride and small amounts of potassium and magnesium.

Figure 2: Supplementing fluid and sodium during exercise.

Effects of magnesium and potassium
Magnesium plays a role in the activity of certain enzymes involved in energy metabolism, thus supporting energy levels. For example, magnesium is part of the magnesium-ATP complex and is needed to release energy from ATP (energy carrier in cells). It is also involved in stimulus transmission in the nerves, which is important for the normal function and contraction of muscles, including the heart muscle. Magnesium can additionally help with fatigue and can contribute to thinking clearly and being mentally sharp.

Potassium is also involved in the transmission of nerve impulses, which, among other things, ensures the proper functioning (contraction) of muscles. It also has a beneficial effect on blood pressure because it plays a role in various blood pressure-regulating processes, such as vasodilation.

Great Salt Lake, the source of Elete™ Sports Minerals
Elete™ Sports Minerals draws its unique strength from the mineral-rich water coming from the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA. This is an inland sea that, through geothermal and evaporation processes, contains very high concentrations of ionic minerals and trace elements in a natural and balanced composition. Additional potassium has been added.

View recipes with Elete™ Sports Minerals >>> here.

Suitable for elite athletes, tested for doping
For anyone serious about sports, it is very important to know what you are taking in. What ingredients are in your food, what are the nutritional values, but also: what is the composition and quality of the sports products you take. Just as important is to know what you are not ingesting. You don't want to ingest unwanted substances and have nothing to do with doping.

Elete™ Sport Minerals has been tested for doping according to the NZVT system (Nederlands Zekerheidssysteem Voedingssupplementen Topsport). This is a system in which dietary supplements are checked to minimize the risk of a positive doping test. Each newly produced batch of Elete™ Sport Minerals is checked according to this procedure. NZVT-tested products give the greatest assurance of not containing any doping-controlled substances. In the NZVT database you can check whether the product has been tested by means of the batch code and THT. Not all products are tested every batch. Products that are tested every batch can be identified in the database by the "infinity" sign. For more information see www.dopingautoriteit.nl/nzvt. Are you interested in a Vitals product that is not tested every batch? Please contact us. Our contact information can be found on the contact page.

Allowed health claims:

• magnesium contributes to proper fluid and electrolyte balance in the body
• magnesium plays a role in maintaining smooth and strong muscles
• magnesium plays a role in building body protein
• magnesium helps release energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins, thus supporting energy levels
• magnesium contributes to a clear mind and is good for concentration
• magnesium contributes to fitness
• Potassium contributes to normal muscle function
• potassium has a positive influence on the functioning of the nervous system
• potassium has a favorable effect on the maintenance of normal blood pressure