Can an electrolyte drink really stop you feeling tired all the time? Top experts give their verdict on the latest wellness trend taking over TikTok: A glass a day tackles exhaustion, cramps and headaches, users say

Fatigued? Lacking in energy? Dehydrated? These are the questions posed by hundreds of TikTok health gurus, who claim to have the answer. Electrolytes - a mixture of essential minerals including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium - are said to instantly resolve disabling exhaustion in a single glass. When mixed with water, the powder helps to replace any minerals lost during periods of sweating or drinking too little liquid - benefiting muscle, nerve and heart function and, ultimately boosting energy.However, experts have recently warned that the drinks are not risk free. Last month, kidney health expert Professor Simon Davies advised the public to exercise 'caution' when it comes to electrolyte drinks due to the high quantity of sodium - the main constituent of salt.Excess sodium could, over time, raise blood pressure, which can then go on to damage the kidneys. But how much do you have to drink to be at risk? And will the drinks really resolve your chronic tiredness? Here, top experts reveal all. Electrolyte drinks were originally formulated to replace salts and fluids lost by athletes during prolonged, strenuous exercise, or by people suffering from illnesses involving vomiting or diarrhoeaWhat do electrolytes do?Electrolytes are minerals that carry a tiny electrical charge when dissolved in the blood and other body fluids and are vital for the proper functioning of cells in the muscles, heart and brain. They can also help the body absorb and retain water. 'There are circumstances in which you may lose electrolytes, having an impact on health and performance,' says Bridget Benelam, a nutritionist and spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation. 'These include strenuous exercise in hot conditions where sweat losses are high and during episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea.' In these cases, experts say, an electrolyte drink is a good idea.Excessive electrolyte loss in sweat can impair sports performance, as well as more critically, lead to problems with blood pressure, breathing and heart rates.But while they’re found in supplements and sports drinks, electrolytes are also in the foods we eat every day, including vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.And what of the supposed energy boost? While there's good evidence that electrolyte drinks can improve sports performance in athletes, there's little data that they boost energy in those who are not dehydrated.A feeling of revitalisation is likely due to the impact of hydration, as well as substances commonly added to electrolyte drinks like caffeine and sugar, experts say.Rob Hobson, a nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Family Life, says: 'While replacing sodium and other minerals lost through sweat, they keep the body in balance and reducing the risk of fatigue - as well as dizziness and cramps.'You don’t, however, need electrolyte drinks every time you exercise.' Are some drinks better than others? Some sports drink brands contain high levels of sugar and sodium, with just one bottle sometimes containing enough to undo all the hard work of your 30 minute gym session.'Both should be limited in the diet and so it's important to check nutrition labels if consuming these products,' Bridget Benelam, a nutritionist and spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation, says.'Athletes usually need to consume more sodium than other people.But for everyone else, supplements with more moderate levels of sodium — around 200 to 300 mg — should be enough to rehydrate, experts say.'For medical rehydration and gastrointestinal illnesses, I recommend oral rehydration solution sachets you can get from high street pharmacy,' says dietician Nicola Ludlam-Raine.'For sports, choose products that clearly state sodium per litre and carb per cent, for example sports drinks or gels that provide carbs plus sodium for long events.'...and what about the risks? Those with underlying kidney problems face the highest risk from electrolyte drinks, experts say.Kidney Research UK says about seven million people in Britain are living with some level of chronic kidney disease. Five million of those are undiagnosed.For these people, drinking extra sodium may be particularly problematic because damaged kidneys are less able to remove excess salt and fluid from the body, which can then drive blood pressure higher.High blood pressure itself can then further damage the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys, creating the vicious circle described by Professor Davies.Typically, 500ml of an electrolyte drink contains about 320mg of sodium – more than twice as much as a standard bag of ready salted crisps. That is equivalent to about 0.8g of salt. This blood pressure chart displays blood pressure readings and their associated risk categories. Daily electrolyte risks could push up blood pressure, experts have warnedBritons already consume some 8.4g of salt a day on average – well above the recommended maximum of 6g – meaning a daily electrolyte drink could push intake higher still.Prof Davies warns that even for those without kidney damage, consuming this amount of daily excess salt could increase blood pressure to harmful levels.‘The danger is that consuming a lot of extra sodium every day in a drink can increase blood pressure, which can then damage the kidneys. Damaged kidneys are not as efficient at removing excess salt, so blood pressure rises even higher and the kidneys are damaged even further – and so on and so on, in a vicious circle.‘What’s worse is that people may not realise the damage has been done until the problems are already well advanced.’Ultimately, there is 'no reason' the average person should be taking electrolyte drinks on a daily basis.‘A lot of people slosh them back as a health enhancer,' says Prof Davies. 'But there’s no evidence they have any benefit to health at all. 'The best you can say is that for most people these drinks won’t do any harm – as long as they have a good enough kidney function to deal with them.’READ MORE: The cheap hair loss supplements that can turn your wispy hair into full, healthy locks