Q: Someone told me you should be sure to eat enough salt when you're visiting a hot climate. Is this true?A: "True enough, but most people consume more than enough salt (sodium chloride) in a normal diet, and hence do not need supplementation," said Dr. Richard Reich, a clinical associate professor and infectious disease specialist at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Some marathon runners have suffered hyponatremia, a dangerous electrolyte imbalance that can be caused by drinking too much water without getting enough sodium, and many sports medicine experts believe endurance athletes can benefit from supplements of sodium and possibly potassium, especially in hot weather.
"The addition of small amounts of salt to the fluid is probably helpful for marathon runners and other endurance athletes," says Reich. "For John Doe going to Mexico, it's probably not needed."
But staying hydrated in hot weather is always a good idea, he added, and it is particularly helpful to drink beforehand, as water takes a while to get into your system.
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