Sodium is the most important electrolyte for maintaining the body’s fluid balance and thereby helping to retain absorbed water. Popular belief holds that a diet that is too high in sodium can be harmful. This is indeed the case for the average population, who consume too much sodium for the amount lost, and this can lead to problems with hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
However, for athletes, it’s entirely something else. Long-term efforts that lead to loss of fluid through sweat can lead to a state of dehydration. This dehydration is problematic, and it often comes with reduced muscle performance, cramps, nausea, headaches, etc.
While the focus is often on rehydration through water intake, sodium intake is neglected in the rehydration process. If we don’t replace the sodium lost in sweat, the water we ingest will not be absorbed, a greater percentage of it will be expelled as urine, and the rehydration process will be ineffective. It’s for this reason that it’s just as essential to fill our sodium reserves as it is to fill our water reserves.
In addition to its importance during exercise, rehydration is a key factor in our ability to chain training sessions at a close frequency. An electrolyte intake is therefore also necessary between the various sessions in order to always start them in a properly-hydrated state.
There is 300mg of sodium in each serving of Upika Endurance, which is a sufficient amount to ensure good water retention and a suitable level of rehydration. We recommend, on average, one serving per 60 minutes of sustained exertion.
Of course, fluid and sodium needs can vary due a number of factors. Among these, the ambient heat, the level of effort as well as the athlete’s predisposition to sweat. You must therefore be attentive to your body, and make sure to stay on top of your hydration in order to maximize performance.