Salt and exercise
My "in" box is filling up today with news on salt and exercise, interupting (and affecting) my final edits on a story on salt and obesity. First, CBS Radio News medical consultant Dr. Gabe Mirkin wrote calling my attention to his "August" article (all senses of the word) "Why You Need Salt During Exercise " followed closely by an article filed today by Ivana Bisaro, "See Salt: You Need More Sodium Than You Think ." The Bisaro article was perfect for hot August days, reminding us of the new guidelines presented by the American College of Sports Medicine calling for replacing 500-700 mg of sodium and 3/4 to 1 liter of fluid for every hour of exercise. ACSM warns to pay special attention to getting enough salt if your sodium intake is less than 3,000 mg day (US average = 3,500 mg, but some recomend 2,300 mg, below the ACSM warning level). The US Dietary Guidelines call for a half hour of at least moderate exercise a day beyond normal activities. When it's hot outside, you may need even more than the 250-350 mg of sodium called for by the ACSM.
