From the article
>Athletes have higher fluid and sodium requirements than sedentary
>individuals. For the general population, the recommendation is to limit
>sodium >intake to 2.3 grams per day, which is equivalent to 5.8 grams of
>salt. The rationale for this guideline, is that excessive sodium intake
>causes high >blood pressure in individuals who are 'salt sensitive'.
>Because most people only require 1.5 grams of sodium per day, it makes
>sense from a public >health perspective to recommend reduced intakes.
>Athletes, however, need significantly more sodium than their inactive
>counterparts; the exact >amount varies greatly between individuals,
>depending on sweat volume and sweat sodium concentration.
From my own personal experience, I think the human body must be quite
adaptive to sodium intake. By choice, my sodium intake is pretty low,
probably a little more than 1000 mg per day (blood pressure considerations).
I've adhered to this kind of diet for over 20 years. I often do hard rides
of up to 2 hours. I do some type of aerobic workout almost every day, and I
sweat a lot when I work out. It's been years since I've experienced cramps.
I'm guessing that over the years, my body adapted to the amount of sodium
available to it and that my sweat sodium concentration must be low. Also, I
generally rehydrate with water or diluted juice, particularly diluted
cranberry juice cocktail.
If the vinegar or pickle juice works for you, then keep doing it. I bet it's
not a placebo effect. For whatever reason, it works for you.
"D'ohBoy" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> At some point the author questions the relationship between sodium and
> cramping. So why does a shot of vinegar or pickle juice almost
> immediately alleviate any cramp I have? Placebo effect?
>
> http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness.php?id=fitness/2006/sodium_intake
>
> Interesting nonetheless.
>
> D'ohBoy
>
