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Explain minerals and electrolyte balance as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

Your body needs minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium to function properly—these are called electrolytes when dissolved in your body fluids because they carry electrical charges. These electrolytes work together to maintain the right balance of fluids inside and outside your cells, help your muscles contract (including your heart), transmit nerve signals, and regulate your blood pH. Your body carefully controls electrolyte levels through your kidneys, which filter out excess amounts through urine, and through hormones that signal when to retain or release them. When this balance gets disrupted—through dehydration, excessive sweating, illness, or poor diet—you can experience symptoms ranging from muscle cramps and fatigue to serious heart rhythm problems.