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Salt: excitotoxin or electrolyte?

Posted by Hummingbird on July 31, 2011 at 6:39am

I'm curious about sodium chloride... I've read all over respectable sources, including this site, that salt is horrible for health (including sea salt or gourmet salts).  Bioavailable sodium comes from veggies like celery.  I've seen here and there that DR says his sweat isn't salty anymore, too.

 

However... Mike Arnstein takes S-Caps, according to his blog, and highly recommends them.  I've been reading up on ultramarathon'ers lately and it seems like they ALL take S-Caps, or Endurolytes, or some form of salt.

 

So I'm curious what the opinions are on salt - in the context of exercise.  I have had sensitive electrolytes for years due to a history of eating disorders... after only an hour of exercise I get the "sloshy" stomach feeling after drinking water, and fatigue, and the symptoms go away when I supplement with Electromix (potassium) and Electrolyte Stamina (sodium).  But I'm wondering if I'm just resalting my body into unhealthy salt addiction every time I exercise.

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Replies

  • RawDad September 8, 2011 at 8:18am
    There was a discussion on the McDougall forum about this..... Jeff Novick says adding salt to the diet does not reliably raise blood syrum sodium levels......
  • Kristian September 8, 2011 at 7:30am
    Hi Chris, spinach is also high in sodium is it not?
  • Kristian September 8, 2011 at 7:29am
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  • Hummingbird August 1, 2011 at 9:15am

    Great comments, info, and articles guys.  After reading everything that's been posted up here, I pretty much agree that refined salt is not healthy - CR, scary stuff about salt being able to kill a person!  I didn't know that!

     

    This quote here, from another post, pretty much describes my general hunch about salt:

     
    "Supposedly the body will hang on to sodium very efficiently after it adapts to a lower dose as provided by natural foods. Make sure to consume the foods others have mentioned to avoid supplementation. On Nutrition and Athletic Performance has further info on this."

     

    It makes sense that Michael supplements with salt doing ultramarathons - he says in his video that basically running ultramarathons is not necessarily natural for the human body, so he has to use some unnatural measures to keep up.

     

    My issue is that I get low on salt (or some combination of minerals and electrolytes) from a normal amount of exercise.  And... I didn't mention this before, but I notice weird symptoms even when I'm not exercising.  I could be having a completely sedentary day, and be experiencing symptoms.

     

    Michael's video here  describes some of the symptoms of mild and then severe hyponatremia, including difficulty breathing.  This is exactly what I experience... even without exercise.

     

    I basically think that I screwed something up in my body over my years of bulimia (lots and lots of vomiting), and then further screwed up by over supplementing with electrolyte tablets and powders to try and maintain normal energy levels.  I have been eating electrolyte supplements every single day for at least 6 years, whether I exercise or not.  There was one point where I was so dependent on them that I was taking 30 or 40 tablets a day (recommended is 2) just to function.

     

    I weaned myself off of them, and now am finding myself back on them again... in small amounts, not like before, but definitely dependent to them to exercise normally.

     

    So I'm thinking that I have to get off of them completely and cleanse whatever is imbalanced in me out, and replace whatever is depleted.  I am even thinking of doing a green juice cleanse or something to speed up the process, because the symptoms are just such a drag...

    Michael Arnstein
    • Hummingbird > Hummingbird September 8, 2011 at 6:52am

      Yes.  This is becoming clearer and clearer.  This recent post really spells things out: here

       

      Since I posted this, I have been weaning my body off of any electrolyte supplements containing salt.  It is a slow process but I'm seeing RESULTS!  As in, all the confusing symptoms are starting to go away with just plain fruits and vegetables.  It's extremely rewarding and makes total sense that fruits and vegetables really have all we need.

  • Superhuman August 1, 2011 at 5:12am

    Thanx. Do you have more articles etc about what you are saying? that is really good documented?

     

    http://www.naturalhi.com/june2011newsletter.pdf

     

    There is article about salt in the end

  • Durianwriter July 31, 2011 at 4:26pm
    This particular article was written by Swayze, the author of that site.  She does list an article on condiments by T.C. Fry, titled "Are Any Condiments Acceptable in the Hygienic Diet?"
  • Superhuman July 31, 2011 at 11:14am
    I dont think the article paint the whole picture. Im not against or for salt but i want to facts straight. First off im not talking about table salt since even the salt people say its poison
  • Superhuman July 31, 2011 at 11:06am

    I love this topic myself and ofc im after the best. If celery sodium etc is better then sea salt then for sure ill take celery. What about chlorine ? is it beneficial?

     

    I have Water&Salt book in front of me and its for sure a very very good book. It recommends to eat only vegan so fruit and veggies and it says to use 1 tsp of solay salt a day thats all. She states in the book that you dont need more then 500mg sodium

    • ednshell > Superhuman July 31, 2011 at 1:07pm

      Hi Megan,

       

      I believe it's the kidneys that make the difference in how much water you hold.  The kidneys become really good at holding on to sodium when you don't eat a lot.  But if you start to eat a lot agin, it takes them some time to start spitting it out instead of holding on to it, so some major water retention would happen to dilute it until your kidneys learn to get rid of it again.

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