I cannot find it online in order to share a link with you, but if you have a chance to read the November 08 issue of TRIATHLETE, look for the article with above title on it.
In this article, Mr. Fitzgerald notes the following salt myths:
Salt promotes high blood pressure (it does not).
Lack of salt will cause internal fluid imbalances and muscle cramps (also not true). The latest theory is that exercise-induced muscle cramps represent a type of tendon muscle fatigue that occurs during unaccustomed levels of exertion. Salt and fluid intake can delay cramping, but they do not keep it from happening.
Adding sodium to sports drinks improves hydration by increasing the rate at which fluid is absorbed into the bloodstream and by slowing the decline in blood volume (not supported by most research).
Endurance athletes need to add sodium to their diet (they do not).
WOW! I was floored. Every one of these goes against everything I've heard, read, and been taught. I guess triathlon is like golf or any other sport. If you read enough articles, you'll find 5 that say one thing and another 5 that contradict the very thing you were just told was true by the other five articles (all purportedly written by expert researchers in the field).
He does temper the article by adding that while there is little evidence that salt boosts endurance performance, there is no evidence that it has a detrimental effect on performance. If you swear that salt intake helps you, then by all means continue doing what you do.
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