(Fwd) Re: electrolytes and sweating

["Beth Glace" <lb@nismat.org>]

Regarding the conservation of electrolytes in sweat, training in the 
heat results in an adaptation to produce more dilute sweat, thus 
conserving electrolytes.   This is one reason to make sure some 
training is done in hot conditions if you are going to compete in hot 
conditions.  Dilute sweat evaporates more effectively, thereby 
cooling the body more rapidly.  Women, for example, hang on to 
salts more effectively than do men, and produce a more dilute 
sweat, which often means they can sweat less to rid the same 
amount of heat.  Sponging can still be  helpful 
even in very humid conditions:  you may be diluting the solute 
concentration of the sweat on the skin, and increasing evaporation to 
the greatest degree possible.  Of course, here in the east you can 
get days with 95-100% humidity, and little evaporation can occur even 
if you are the Best Sponger in the South!  


 Beth
in humid and sometimes hot NY