Hydrate or Die... or

Here's a perspective that took a while to surface:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/opinion/14thu2.html?

wrote:
Here's a perspective that took a while to surface:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/opinion/14thu2.html?


I recall one long, hot, humid ride when I was religiously drinking
water, but feeling absolutely terrible. My stomach felt full and
sloshy, but I still felt thirsty; and yet water tasted terrible.

I stopped at a fast food joint and got some salt packets. It was
somehow what I needed. After that experience, I began carrying some of
those packets in my bike bag, and adding one or two to a water bottle.

Later, someone told me that salt substitute is a better choice, because
it contains a better balance of sodium and potassium. You can get it
at any pharmacy. That's my fix for long hot rides these days.

That and V-8 Juice.

- Frank Krygowski

writes:

Later, someone told me that salt substitute is a better choice, because
it contains a better balance of sodium and potassium. You can get it
at any pharmacy. That's my fix for long hot rides these days.

The answer to low sodium is to replace the sodium. At least some of
the salt replacements, such as NoSalt and NuSalt, contain no sodium.
All of them contain mostly potasium salts. Potasium loss during
exercise has never been shown to be a problem. Although unlikely, it
is possible to kill yourself by taking too much oral potasium. For a
humorous yet factual take on the last point see:

http://www.macrobiotic.org/SaltSubDanger.htm

Jim Smith wrote:

The answer to low sodium is to replace the sodium. At least some of
the salt replacements, such as NoSalt and NuSalt, contain no sodium.
All of them contain mostly potasium salts. Potasium loss during
exercise has never been shown to be a problem.

Well, potassium loss can contribute to muscle cramps:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09355.html

Although unlikely, it
is possible to kill yourself by taking too much oral potasium. For a
humorous yet factual take on the last point see:

http://www.macrobiotic.org/SaltSubDanger.htm

Yup- and that's why potassium-containing IV's in hospitals are supposed
to be marked in a distinctive fashion, and full-strength IV potassium
chloride is kept away from the ER. Otherwise, bad stuff happens:
http://www.iatrogenic.org/fatalerr.html

Jeff

wrote:

wrote:

Here's a perspective that took a while to surface:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/opinion/14thu2.html?


I recall one long, hot, humid ride when I was religiously drinking
water, but feeling absolutely terrible. My stomach felt full and
sloshy, but I still felt thirsty; and yet water tasted terrible.

I stopped at a fast food joint and got some salt packets. It was
somehow what I needed. After that experience, I began carrying some
of those packets in my bike bag, and adding one or two to a water
bottle.

Later, someone told me that salt substitute is a better choice,
because it contains a better balance of sodium and potassium. You
can get it at any pharmacy. That's my fix for long hot rides these
days.

That and V-8 Juice.

I'm a V-8 drinker too. Call me un-American, but I hate soft drinks, and most
"juice" drinks aren't much better. V-8 is the only thing I'll drink that's
available in most convenience stores. It seems to do the trick with salt
depletion too.

Last year we had Hammergel as a sponsor for our big club ride. We got free
samples of their electrolyte capsules. As a believer in real food vs.
artificial yuppie power food, I had never tried such a thing. It sat around for
months, but I tried it one day when I was feeling really bad. Well, the stuff
is like magic. I felt much better, instantly. So I bought some more. I use it
occasionally when I feel sick or overtired. It's great stuff. I recommend it.

Matt O.

"JeffWills" writes:

Well, potassium loss can contribute to muscle cramps:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09355.html

For sure low potassium can cause all sorts of problems, ranging from
weakness and cramps all the way to heart problems, death, and attempts
to overrule the separation of the legeslative and judicial branches.
What is not clear is wheather or not it has anything to do with
cramping during exercise, and if it does, whether or not
suplementation during exercise will help or not.

Jim Smith wrote:
writes:

Later, someone told me that salt substitute is a better choice,
because
it contains a better balance of sodium and potassium. You can get
it
at any pharmacy. That's my fix for long hot rides these days.

The answer to low sodium is to replace the sodium. At least some of
the salt replacements, such as NoSalt and NuSalt, contain no sodium.
All of them contain mostly potasium salts.

Hmm. Well, the one I've been using is "Cardia Salt" and it's
ingredients as listed are "Salt, Potassium chloride, Magnesium Sulfate,
L-Lysine Hydrochloride, Silicon Dioxide" - which would be listed in
order of decreasing content.



Potasium loss during
exercise has never been shown to be a problem. Although unlikely, it
is possible to kill yourself by taking too much oral potasium.

Well, that hasn't happened to me yet! ;-) But I'm not taking in much
of this at all. A few shakes into a large water bottle, and that only
on long hot rides.

Again, I tried this (as opposed to plain salt) based on what I heard
from a friend - and he certainly could be wrong. OTOH, it seems to me
that I've read that dropping potassium levels can be a problem under
those conditions. I know that on long hot rides, I develop a craving
for orange juice, and I was told that's possibly related to potassium
loss.

I'd be curious what others know about this.

- Frank Krygowski

Lat tmonth, when I went to buy some Potassium tablets (use them
occasionally on loooong rides for cramps and 'salt' replacement) - the
consulting naturopath (who happened to be at the pharmacy at the time),
asked me what they were for.

When I told her, she told me to buy magnesium tablets instead. She said
that all the research was showing that potassium had litle/no effect on
cramps, and that magnesium was proving to be the main culprit.

Took her advice and gave it a go. And am having much greater results!!
I suspect that this type of thing is very individual, but reckon that
its worth a shot for those not getting good results from there
potassium tablets (or whatever you're using)

Cheers,
Absent Husband

writes:

Jim Smith wrote:
writes:

Later, someone told me that salt substitute is a better choice,
because
it contains a better balance of sodium and potassium. You can get
it
at any pharmacy. That's my fix for long hot rides these days.

The answer to low sodium is to replace the sodium. At least some of
the salt replacements, such as NoSalt and NuSalt, contain no sodium.
All of them contain mostly potasium salts.

Hmm. Well, the one I've been using is "Cardia Salt" and it's
ingredients as listed are "Salt, Potassium chloride, Magnesium Sulfate,
L-Lysine Hydrochloride, Silicon Dioxide" - which would be listed in
order of decreasing content.

Hmm, looks like that one has about 2.5 times as much sodium as
potasium (47 vs 18 meq per teaspoon), so I was wrong about all of them
being mostly potassium. With that touch of magnesium too, it looks
like a reasonable substance to use if one was interested in
experimenting with replacing electrolytes. Important to read those
labels.

On 14 Apr 2005 22:03:24 -0700, "Absent Husband"
wrote:

Lat tmonth, when I went to buy some Potassium tablets (use them
occasionally on loooong rides for cramps and 'salt' replacement) - the
consulting naturopath (who happened to be at the pharmacy at the time),
asked me what they were for.

When I told her, she told me to buy magnesium tablets instead. She said
that all the research was showing that potassium had litle/no effect on
cramps, and that magnesium was proving to be the main culprit.

Took her advice and gave it a go. And am having much greater results!!
I suspect that this type of thing is very individual, but reckon that
its worth a shot for those not getting good results from there
potassium tablets (or whatever you're using)

Cheers,
Absent Husband

One thing to remember, buy the best quality mineral suppliments that you
can and check the assay. The low quality ones may (but may not) have
contaminents - typically very small quantites of lead and/or mercury or
other heavy metals. Though these might be trace amounts, over time they
could stay in the body and accumulate.

I hasten to add that this info is a decade old, and modern mineral
suppliments may be better controlled for purity. Solgar, Twin Labs, and
others were brands I used back then.

I think I'll do some research on Magnesium. Thanks for the tip.

What credentials do naturopaths have?

jj