But now, researchers from Spain talllight the importance of adequate salt intake, specificly for athletes. Dr Juan del Coso Garrigos of the Camilo Jose Cela University, Spain, investigated the impact of salt on performance in a triathlon.
The race, a "Half Ironman", involved 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling and 21.1 km of athletics. In addition to their normal rehydration drinks, a group of the athletes also took 12 salt capsules - in three doses - during the competition. The plan was to replacing 71% of the estimated sodium lost via sweat.
This group finished the race 26 minutes faster on average than a group given rehydration drinks and placebo tablets. The drinks alone replaced about 20% of the lost sodium.
"This positive effect on performance relates to an increase in the concentration of electrolytes in the blood, improving the water and electrolyte balances during the competition," said Dr Coso Garrigos.
"If we choose a mineral water as a rehydration drink in sport, which contains a low level of sodium, we would be replacing only the liquid while the concentration of sodium in our blood would gradually become diluted," he warns.
While sports drinks companies know that adding more sodium would be more favourable during exercise, "a greater concentration of sodium would also make the drink have a more salty taste and would reduce the possibilities of succeeding in a market where flavour is key to obtaining good sales figures," he added.
This is important to know in the (perhaps unlikely) event of my taking part in a gruelling race finaling over two hours.
Kate Ricdwhetherficults
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