Electrolytes and the human body !!!!!?

Holy Cow, is that a broad question! The answer could cover SEVERAL textbooks. I'll just touch LIGHTLY on the answer, but I won't write your term paper for you. Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium) are found in every cellular function. Nerves are made up of nothing more than Sodium and Potassium, with a fatty insulated sheath. They act as "wiring" in the body. Thus, without electrolytes, there would be no nerves or nervous function. Shortages of electrolytes can cause a wide panoply of disorders that I won't bother to list here. You're going to have to do some of this research on your own. Yes, athletes benefit from drinking electrolyte drinks because they lose a lot of Sodium in particular from perspiration.