Oh they're pretty simple! They're ionic compounds that enable the conduction of electricity. Physiologically, the most important ones are sodium and potassium. The body loses electrolytes whenever it loses fluid, and the idea is that we replenish them through our diet, but in extreme conditions, we can't replace them fast enough, and it can cause all sorts of problems. That's why athletes drink specially formulated drinks instead of plain water. And that's why I was sort of worried they kept just sending us bottles and bottles of water, and no salt tablets or anything...
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