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Teri E.
Teri E. Sendmail

My Sweat Isn't Salty Anymore - Should I Be Worried

posted 9 months ago | Report

I've been exercising about 1&1/2 hours per day most days of the week. Most of the time I'm pushing myself pretty hard although I do have those times when my body tells me to take it easy! I would say this is the hardest I've ever worked out since my high school days. I am now 49. My question is this: When I've been sweating and it is dripping down my face and rolls into my mouth, I am noticing that it doesn't have that salty taste like usual. I'm assuming my electrolytes are "unbalanced" due to more water intake and more sweating. I've heard this can cause problems. So far I feel fine, as a matter of fact I feel great, and I want to keep it that way. Do I need to worry about this? I've never competed in any races, but I've seen the stuff people use during long races. I'm just not knowledgeable about any of that stuff. If you have any suggestions or thoughts I'd be glad to hear them.

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  • Stephanie O.
    Stephanie O. Sendmail

    Hi Teri,
    I actually did some research into this same matter. I was working out a lot during the hottest times of the summer. I was worried about not getting enough fluids or losing too much in the heat. So, I have read that if your sweat taste like pickles then you are actually dehydrated and need more electrolytes. Your sweat is a lot like your urine. If your urine is clear, then you are well hydrated. if it is apple juice you are not, or if it smells like ammonia... same thing, not hydrated. Our bodies have amazing ways of telling us what it needs. :) So with that being said, if your sweat taste like water and if you feel good, no headaches, dizziness etc. my little ole opinion is your ok. HOWEVER, If you are working out that much you still need to drink a sports drink with your water to balance your electrolytes. I always had a problem flushing out my electrolytes after a hard work out or run, because my water intake. Now, I am religious about drinking a sports drink right after a run more than 30 mins and water after.

    http://www.runningplanet.com/training/salty-sweater.html

    posted 9 months ago

  • Chasidy R.
    Chasidy R. Sendmail

    Hey Teri,

    I have took a sports nutrition class in college as part of my nutrition & wellness degree...our professor told us if you are working out longer than 60 min. then u need to replace those electrolytes. If sports drinks make u sick at all like they do to me you can do half sports drink an half water.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Teri E.
    Teri E. Sendmail

    Thanks for the info. I've never really used the sports drinks because I don't really like them. I'll try doing half water/half sports drink. I'll just have to force myself to drink it. Amazingly, about 6 weeks ago I stopped drinking everything but water. Since then I've had 1 frozen strawberry margarita and 1 cappuccino and a total of 6 sips of my husband's diet Dr. Pepper, but other than that it has been just water. Now it is just kind of automatic for me to drink water.

    posted 9 months ago

  • James S.
    James S. Sendmail
    in reply to what Stephanie O. said:Hi Teri, I actually did some research into this same matter. I was working out a lot during the hottest times of the summer. I was worried about not getting enough fluids or losing too much in the heat. So, I have read that if your sweat taste l... read more

    Thank you for that information, I didnt know that...When I was deployed in Iraq I noticed my sweat tatsted like pickles but just took it as a new flavor. Thank you again.

    posted 9 months ago

  • James S.
    James S. Sendmail
    in reply to what Chasidy R. said:Hey Teri, I have took a sports nutrition class in college as part of my nutrition & wellness degree...our professor told us if you are working out longer than 60 min. then u need to replace those electrolytes. If sports drinks make u sick at ... read more

    Chasity, Awesome information and thank you for sharing it. I have been told that drinking sports drinks are not good for you because your really not replacing anything and you getting Caloris and sugars with that....when I do drink it I will half and half it. Thank you agin for the new information.

    posted 9 months ago

  • MichaelPRO
    Michael Sendmail

    Perhaps you can put a Nuun tablet into your water to replace electrolytes without the additional calories that a sports drink might provide. http://www.nuun.com/products

    posted 9 months ago

  • Stephanie O.
    Stephanie O. Sendmail

    I have cut back on drinking sports drink because of the sugar and calorie intake, So I use " Cytomax" It actually has more minerals than a sports drink has. Sports drinks only replace certain things.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Teri E.
    Teri E. Sendmail

    Michael and Stephanie, thanks for the suggestions on the products. That is what I was hoping would happen with this post. I didn't want to spend a lot of time doing an initial search when I knew someone out there would have some suggestions for me. I will look into these products. Thanks again.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Liz G.
    Liz G. Sendmail

    Sports drinks are not good to drink just sitting around because of the calories, but they are designed to enhance your performance for activities lasting 60 min or more. Most brands I am familiar with contain electrolytes (mainly sodium and potassium) that you lose through your sweat. Replacing with only water can lead to a dangerous condition known as hyponatremia ("low salt"), though this is more seen in extreme conditions (marathons, hot humid environments).
    The carbohydrates in the sports drinks help with 2 things: 1) energy replacement. you burn approx 100 calories per mile, and can store enough glycogen in your muscles for about 2 hours of endurance exercise. The readily absorbable sugars help sustain your exercise while saving your glycogen a bit. They can also help to begin the refueling process quickly when you're done. 2) Fluids are better absorbed by your digestive tract when in a 6-8% carbohydrate solution. This is what most brands are. So you're not only taking in water, you're taking it in more efficiently when with carbohydrates.
    That all said, everyone is a bit different in what their stomach can handle. Practice taking small sips throughout a workout, as opposed to chugging half a bottle every 30 min.
    The electrolyte-only beverages (nuun, GU has one) are great too, if you're not looking for the carbs, esp during a shorter workout.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Kelli A.
    Kelli A. Sendmail

    I use powerade zero no real sugars and no carbs , as I also take a protein peptide injection for my diabetes , I always have to be on the look out for dehydration. But there is very good information here,Thanks for asking the question

    posted 9 months ago

  • Chris B.
    Chris B. Sendmail

    Our brains are quite good at managing bodily functions including salt content of sweat. If you're working out 90 min a day and feel great maybe thats because you are doing everything right. The recently published book "Waterlogged" by Tim Noakes provides a ton of research results on hydration, and his conclusions are quite different from what we have come to believe. My suggestion is to quit worrying, keep doing what you're doing and keep feeling great. BTW, at 90 min/day maybe you should be racing :)

    posted 9 months ago

  • Kyle K.
    Kyle K. Sendmail

    I've never supplemented with electrolytes, including during my ultramarathons. You will easily replace them through diet. Your body also does a great job of regulating levels!

    Have you ever thought about why you sweat out salt? Maybe it's because you eat to much of it!

    posted 9 months ago

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