Cramping in Summer Sports: The Sodium Solution

by E. Randy Eichner, M.D.
Team Internist, University of Oklahoma
American Football Monthly August 2003 Issue OnlineThe adult body contains 200 to 250 grams of salt (sodium chloride), which is about a half-pound and more than enough to fill a few salt shakers. But in August football, in five sets of summer tennis or in tropical triathlons, some athletes can lose 25 to 50 grams of salt in sweat. So athletes going hard can lose up to 10 to 25 percent of their total body salt! Massive salt loss like this – along with dehy...Login to Read More

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