Importance Of Sodium Contribution In Athletes

Importance of sodium contribution in athletes

Sodium is a mineral that becomes great importance within the human body. For both sedentary and athletes, it is a substance that must be taken into account. A deficit of it is related to the appearance of acute pathologies such as hyponatremia, which can be fatal. On the other hand, it is essential when it comes to modulating blood pressure, possessing the ability to increase if it is ingested in large quantities.

Sodium is a mineral that actively participates in the transmission of nerve impulse. Guarantees the depolarization processes of neurons to allow the passage of the electrical signal through them. In this way all the body’s cells communicate to coordinate when performing their functions.

The importance of electrolytic balance

When raising a diet focused on maximizing sports performance, attention must also be paid to water and electrolytic balance. Within the latter, the contributions of minerals such as sodium, calcium, potassium are included.

All of them fulfill important functions within the organism, among which the transmission of the nerve impulse is to ensure. A defect in this balance causes notable losses in performance and health status. For this reason it is usually advisable. Above all, it will be carried out in high temperatures and moisture conditions. You have to monitor sodium intake in the athlete. Sodium is one of the minerals that are in greater proportion within the human body.

Presents fundamental regulatory papers in the body and it is necessary to guarantee its contribution through diet.

Otherwise, the athlete is exposed to acute pathological episodes such as hyponatremia, which can put physical performance and even their life at risk. In addition, this mineral is closely related to the maintenance of blood pressure, being able to increase it. Hypotension is not usually a favorable condition within the world of sport, as it increases the risk of dizziness. For this reason it is recommended to guarantee the consumption of common salt at meals, with the aim of regulating tension in the athlete to the optimal values.

Finally it is advisable to consume a pill of mineral salts before the exercise of long duration and high intensity. The objective of this strategy is to improve electrolytic balance and avoid performance losses from the excretion of minerals through sweat.

conclusion

A defect in sodium contribution or an increase in excretion of it through sweat can lead to a severe pathological state. This is hyponatremia, characteristic of summer times, where there are conditions of high temperatures and humidity. In this type of situation, the sweating rate increases, with this also the excretion of sodium, which can cause that the deposits of said mineral are under minimum. In the athlete, this situation can be fatal, as indicated by an article published in the magazine ‘Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association’. This is an acute pathology that greatly influences the athlete’s performance. To avoid it, it is necessary to guarantee the correct hydration of the athlete and the intake of salts in the previous food and during the sports test, if this is long duration.

In addition to being decisive as regards the transmission of nerve impulse, sodium has a modulating paper of blood pressure. A high intake of this mineral manages to increase this parameter, according to a study published in the magazine ‘Nutrients’. Potassium consumption has just the opposite effect. Although in sedentary people it is usually recommended low sodium diets to reduce blood pressure, in the case of athletes the thing varies. It does not usually interest that an athlete has excessively low tension, because this can cause dizziness and performance losses. For this reason, the intake of greater amounts of common salt is recommended than to a sedentary person. In this way it is possible to slightly increase the tension and with it, reduce the risk of falls in sports performance.