Question

Sports drink companies, such as Gatorade or Powerade, add sodium and potassium to their sport drinks. They refer to these minerals as “electrolytes.” Why do you think they assign these minerals that name? Why do they put sodium and potassium in the drinks?

Answer 1

Answer:

Most people who play sports have the goal to accelerate their strength and have the ability to play the best they can. Electrolytes are understood to be minerals in our body with a charge. They can cause muscles to contract more often because of the caffeine in the drink. The caffeine causes an increase in synaptic emission resulting in extra muscle contractions. When playing sports, this can be a good thing. They put sodium and potassium in the drinks to speed up the neurotransmitters.  

Answer 2

Big companies have only one goal in mind and that is to make a profit from any money they have invested in making the products they sell. Gatorade for instance doesn't advertise their minerals as sodium and potassium, but instead as "electrolytes" to draw in and influence customers who believe that these "electrolytes" could aid them in physical workout or even just having energy. The whole point is that there will be a majority that doesn't actually know what an electrolyte is, but since they use terminology that sounds professional they attract these people into buying their product, thus making profit.