Glossary
Electrolytes
Definition: Minerals — chiefly sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride — that carry an electric charge and regulate fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle function.
Why it matters
Diets that sharply reduce carbohydrate or overall food intake can also reduce electrolyte intake, since many electrolyte-rich foods (fruit, legumes, whole grains) are also carbohydrate sources. This is part of why headaches and fatigue are common when starting very-low-carbohydrate diets.
Example
“Keto flu” symptoms in the first week of a ketogenic diet are often linked to electrolyte shifts as the body excretes more sodium and water.