Asked by Anonymous

If you are an average person, just don’t. If you are a high school athlete that doesn’t make his or her own lunch, just don’t. If you like salty shit, just don’t. Basically, if you are the average Joe, just don’t.

This is because salt not only causes water retention, but absolute bodily fluid retention. This include fluids in the joints and spinal cord. When these areas become swollen with extra fluid, you are less flexible, therefore more susceptible to injury. Most likely, if you eat like an American, you have enough salt/electrolytes from food sources. Don’t use sports drinks like Gatorade; waste of money and full of sugar.

Now, if you don’t eat foods with sodium, which is hard to do with pleasure, then supplementation via a BCAA powder, or like a pinch of seasoned salt on chicken should do it for everyday workouts/progression and little water retention. Remember that your body does need it to stay hydrated and sustain optimal neuromuscular efficiency: Egyptians traded a pound of salt for a pound of gold back in the day for a reason other than it makes your food yummy.

For extreme/intensive athletes: good idea. However, sodium does stay in the body for a number of days, about 4 more or less depending on the individual. So supplementing at appropriate times, and during your event, is key (due to the whole bodily fluid thing). If this is you, play around with it a little. Try supplementing 2-4 day out from your event, but not the day before. See how you feel.

That’s pretty much all I know when it comes down to sodium intake in terms of human movement science. Hope this helps!