While we're all thinking about electrolytes...

amiine - 2008-08-11 3:15 PM

KenD - 2008-08-11 2:11 PM

I've heard (and have a hard time believing) that crusted "salt" on your body during endurance type exercise is an indicator that something is wrong.

If I sweat and the water in the sweat then evaporates, whatever else is in the sweat should stay behind on my skin/clothes.  Why should this be an indicator "something" is wrong?

Anyone else ever hear of this?

nope, this is more of an indication that you consume a lot of sodium on your diet and THAT might be bad for you. Hopefully DerekL will chime in for the proper explanation

I get the crusty salt on me and I don't eat much salt at all.

DerekL???

It's not really a sign of too much anything.

Your body sweats in order to cool off.  The cooling effect comes from the evaporation of the sweat, not the sweat itself.  When liquids evaporate, they tend to leave behind the other stuff, hence the reason there is salt on you.

I personally don't think that is the case.  Just read some of Macca's interviews.  He talks about being a heay sweater and crusty.

I'll refer back to those other articles again:

So according to their research and studies they reference in their articles, the ratio of sodium concentration in your blood stays where it should be as long as you don't "drown" it with excess fluid (which leads to hyponatremia and eventually death).

Here's a link to article Daremo is referencing in his post. 

Good stuff.  Thanks, Daremo.

I think we're all washing it off But while I'm running, if I touch my face, or when I get in the car to go home (because I can't really run right near my house for an appreciable distance), I notice it on my forehead, cheeks, etc.