Most people are confused about their electrolyte status. If a blood test comes back within normal ranges, they think that everything is peachy—but that’s not how it works. Electrolyte panels measure the levels in your blood, but that doesn’t tell you if you’re getting enough electrolytes for the rest of your body. In other words, blood tests cannot identify moderate nutrient deficiencies.

A diet low or high in electrolytes may contribute to an out-of-range result, but it’s rarely the primary driver. When an electrolyte test is out of range, it means something particularly funky is going on—more along the lines of heart issues, kidney failure, side effects from certain medications, or illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhea.

Back to the point: It’s important that folks understand their electrolyte panels. People misinterpret their results and think their diet is squared away, when oftentimes there’s plenty of room for improvement. I’m not blaming these folks though – many doctors don’t explain this stuff. In this article, I’ll clear up some common confusion about electrolyte panels, and teach you to assess your electrolyte status properly. Then I’ll cover practical electrolyte intake targets and tips to hit them.