And let’s get one thing straight: bright blue sports drinks are not the only place you can find electrolytes.
Natural sources of electrolytes help our bodies to absorb water and maintain hydration.
H2O: The One Thing Health Experts Can All Agree On
Hydration is key. People have been drinking water since the beginning of time, but the trick to sustained hydration is absorbing water into the body. The minerals in Brodo can help you absorb more water and keep you hydrated for longer.
The Importance of Electrolytes
It’s probably not news to you that we should all be drinking more water. But, what you may have heard less about is the importance of electrolytes in helping our bodies to absorb water and maintain hydration.
Athletes, especially, know the importance of maintaining hydration with natural electrolytes. The Philadelphia 76ers even drink bone broth as a team to stay hydrated!
We’ve all heard the term “electrolytes” in various sports drink commercials. But, what do electrolytes actually do for our bodies? And where can we find them naturally?
What Exactly Are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are key minerals (like sodium, potassium and magnesium) that are vital in maintaining hydration. They also help to regulate the nervous system and control muscular movements.
Quality of Electrolytes
Bone broth is a great natural source of electrolytes. It’s made from real, whole foods like grass-fed beef bones & cartilage, plus fresh organic vegetables. Brodo also contains high-quality minerals like pink Himalayan sea salt.
And bonus? Brodo is made up of about 50% water, so it works double-duty in hydration.
How Much is Too Much Salt?
Sodium, aka salt, has gained a bad reputation, but the truth is that we all need it to survive. The FDA’s current recommendation is 2.3g per day – and the justification is that lower salt intake will prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. However, the Intersalt study goes against this claim by proving that across 48 global populations, higher salt intake had no connection to higher blood pressure. In fact, according to some studies, 2.3 grams of salt per day or less can actually cause higher blood pressure.
To state the obvious is that populations with higher rates of hypertension and heart attack do tend to eat higher amounts of salt. But people with hypertension and cardiovascular disease also tend to eat more ultra-processed foods and live a sedentary lifestyle, both of which actually do cause these diseases. This is the part of the equation not taken into account when creating the FDA’s recommendations.
Our ancestors have been salting food for thousands of years, and “diseases of affluence” have only been around prevalently since World War II. Of course, moderation is key when it comes to any ingredient. At Brodo, we use enough sea salt to bring out the delicious flavor of our bone broth without overpowering it. That’s why our broths have a rich, meaty flavor accented by vegetables, herbs, and spices. Other soups and broths on the market tend to have an overpowering, one-dimensional salty flavor.
In fact, you could drink six 1-cup servings of Brodos per day and still be within the FDA’s current salt guidelines. On the contrary, a 1-cup serving of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup contains a whopping 1,780 mg of salt. That would mean two cups of the stuff would launch you over the FDA’s recommendation!
What is “Bad” Salt?
The type of salt you consume is arguably just as important, if not more important, than the quantity. We at Brodo stick to sea salt due to the presence of trace minerals (such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and other nutrients). The reason it contains these trace minerals is because it’s made by simply evaporating sea water.
Table salt, on the other hand, is mined from salt deposits and then refined, which removes the trace minerals. Additionally, an anti-caking agent is added so that it pours smoothly. This commodity salt is beloved by producers of ultra-processed foods because it’s cheap. When food conglomerates load their ultra-processed foods up with cheap salt, it hides the fact that there are no flavors coming from real seasonings such as vegetables, herbs, and spices.
Good Hydration
When it comes to hydration, Brodo is an excellent choice. It provides not only water but also crucial electrolytes. On top of making it nutritionally dense, we also make it delicious to encourage you to drink more. Next time you work up a sweat at the gym, make sure to replenish what you’ve lost by sipping on a Brodo!
