Electrolytes on Heart Rate

For as long as I can remember, the omnipotent “They” have told us to be careful not to eat too much salt.

While I am not arguing EXCESSIVE sodium intake can cause harm, inadequate sodium can be equally damaging - especially for athletes!

The primary electrolytes lost in sweat are sodium, chloride, and potassium. Sodium and potassium are crucial because the “Sodium Potassium Pump” helps drive chemicals for neuron or nerve function - long story short, you need potassium and sodium to make your body work!

When you lose fluid during exercise (or just standing around in NC heat), your blood thickens, causing the heart to work harder.

This drives up your heart rate, and when coupled with electrolyte loss, can cause heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats.

Heart Rate Zone training, a topic we will get into next time, has become more popular with the rise of smart devices and wearables. It can create more sustainable and efficient workouts when done correctly. This is why understanding your basic chemistry is critical; if you are focused on specific heart rate zones, but are lacking electrolytes, you can be thrown out of the sweet spot quicker than you want to be.

For people exercising at least 45 minutes a day, we recommend throwing in an LMNT or Boa Blast Spray before or after as part of your recovery. If you consume what you assume to be a low-sodium diet, or do endurance events, salt can be a game changer!