[at-l] SALT INFO from 4 web sites with edresses

[nealb@midlandstech.com (William Neal)]

All this discussion about salt drove me to do some research and I found =
the
following info online.   One is from the Salt Institute; one is based =
at
Rice; one is from a UK Sports Coach; and the last is a chapter from the
Merck Manual (an essential medicine/health care reference).
=20
William, The Vinegar and Salt Turtle
  _____ =20

"Salt is known as sodium chloride and has the chemical formula NaCl. By
weight, salt is 40% sodium and 60% chloride. Most foods and tap water
contain sodium and chloride. Sodium is an essential nutrient, a mineral =
that
the body cannot manufacture itself.=20
Because of sodium's importance to your body, the excretory and nervous
systems guard against under-consumption of salt, which is a threat to =
your
body's nerves and muscles. Other ions such as calcium, magnesium, and
potassium are also very important. Concentrations of these ions are =
held in
narrow ranges by the kidney. Calcium is found in all dairy products, =
beans,
nuts, and seeds, and is used for building bones and teeth, blood =
clotting,
and muscle contraction. Magnesium is found in beans, nuts, dark green
vegetables, and lean meats, and is used to produce protein, build =
bones, and
regulate body temperature. Potassium is found in most fruits and =
vegetables,
and assists in muscle contraction, fluid regulation, and nerve =
impulses."
>From The Salt Institute at http://www.saltinstitute.org/42k.html
<http://www.saltinstitute.org/42k.html>=20
  _____ =20

Recently, Americans have been urged to pay more attention to their =
sodium
intake. Decades ago, all foods seemed heavily salted. Then, a link =
between
sodium intake and high blood pressure was discovered. Suddenly, "sodium =
-
free" or "low sodium" products began flooding the consumer market.
Certainly, to a degree, this is justified. Many diseases are worsened =
by
excess sodium intake, and millions of Americans must closely watch the
amount of sodium in their diet.
However, sodium is a required element for normal body functions. It is =
lost
in sweat and urine and is replaced in the diet. The body has a =
remarkable
ability to maintain sodium and water balance throughout a variety of
conditions, thus ensuring our survival. Ultraendurance events challenge =
this
survival mechanism.
In hot, humid conditions a large amount of sweat is lost, which can =
disturb
sodium and water balance. Adequate hydration and sodium intake -- =
either via
sports drinks or food -- becomes vitally important during long races. =
The
goal of this article is to help you determine how to maintain sodium =
balance
during training and racing and during recovery. The information for =
this
article came from a variety of published studies done on healthy, young
athletes and may not be appropriate for everyone. Athletes who are =
under a
physician's care or have health problems should check with their doctor
about salt and their ability to exercise in the heat.
>From =A91997 SportsMed Web at =
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/salt.html
<http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/salt.html>  =20
NOTE: LONGISH ARTICLE entitled Salt and the ultraendurance athlete
  _____ =20

Sweating is the way in which the body maintains it's core temperature =
at 37
degrees centigrade. This results in the loss of body fluid and =
electrolytes
(minerals such as chloride, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, sodium and
potassium) and if unchecked will lead to dehydration and eventually
circulatory collapse and heat stroke. The effect of fluid loss on the =
body
is as follows....
From:  Sports Drinks at http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/drinks.htm
<http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/drinks.htm>=20
NOTE: Longish Article from Sports Coach Site Index (apparently a sports
coach in the UK)
  _____ =20

The following webdress leads to the Online version of the Merck Manual =
:
Home Edition.  The Merck Manual is one of the leading medical =
publications
for doctors, nurses, health care professionals & students, and is an
essential reference in medicine/health care.  The chapter that this =
webdress
leads to is a good, but long article on Water Balance.  Inside the =
article
is a link to Salt Balance (chapter 137).  Both are good sound medical =
info
on the hows and whys of water and salt in the body.
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/sec12/136.htm
<http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/sec12/136.htm>=20
=20


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