Advanced Sweat Testing

1 watcher

Nellers Jan 2020 9:55am, 16 Jan 2020 35,646 posts	0 Nellers That link that um has posted is for Precision Hydration who sponsor the Oxygen Addict triathlon podcast, so I hear a lot of plugs for them. They say that their research shows that the amount of sweat will vary due to a lot of factors but the "saltiness" of that sweat is very consistent for an individual. I'm not saying this is the case, but that's what they claim, and so on that basis they do sweat tests to establish your saltiness of sweating and prescribe a certain strength of electrolyte solution to balance that during exercise. Also the main benefit of balancing sodium that they claim is that it prevents cramping. I'm aware of studies that showed no correlation between sodium levels and cramping, or any correlation between sodium intake stopping cramping once it had occurred. V'Rap, I'm guessing there's better evidence from non-commercial studies saying the opposite?
oumaumau Jan 2020 11:45am, 16 Jan 2020 1,514 posts	0 oumaumau I wonder if they ever test anyone and discover the testee doesn't need any of their product Nellers... I read this : irunfar.com a while ago, and from memory (haven't re-read to confirm) there are explanations for why ingesting sodium (or pickle juice) may 'stop' cramping, but it's unlikely that low sodium is the cause.
Nellers Jan 2020 11:50am, 16 Jan 2020 35,651 posts	0 Nellers I remember thinking that the pickle juice effect was basically a distraction thing when I first heard that. I also wonder whenever a product sponsors a podcast and the presenters swear by the product how much is honest self-deception and how much is "shilling for big pharma/hydration/nutrition/streamlining/ insert any other desirable outcome/product here", but if the podcast is interesting I tend to just blank the ads out.
Albert O Balsam Jan 2020 3:00pm, 17 Jan 2020 619 posts	0 Albert O Balsam Pickle juice would certainly act as a distraction - euerghh !
Oranj Jan 2020 7:34pm, 21 Jan 2020 1,841 posts	0 Oranj I've not read the links, but was persuaded a few years ago by anecdotal triathlete evidence of the effectiveness of pickle juice. It just about works for me when everything else has failed, although I have no idea how. Yes, it is not the most enticing drink on a warm afternoon.
Nellers Jan 2020 7:44pm, 21 Jan 2020 35,682 posts	0 Nellers So what time of day or weather conditions would make pickle juice the most enticing drink then Oranj? I think on balance I'll stick with the cramps.;-)
Oranj Jan 2020 7:50pm, 21 Jan 2020 1,842 posts	0 Oranj Fair point, although you may not suffer with cramp the way I do. I have even considered leaving a small bottle on the jetty of my local lake for summer swims. Through the winter I buy pickled onions and gherkins and save the juice in jars in the fridge, ready for the big efforts of the summer.
Nellers Jan 2020 8:00pm, 21 Jan 2020 35,683 posts	0 Nellers To be fair it's not something that I've suffered from often when running or swimming. Occasionally I would get woken in the night with a calf cramp during periods of lots of running. Nothing for ages though. (Yes, I've just doomed myself to a terrible cramping incident tonight or tomorrow by saying that haven't I?)