Sodium Pre-Workout

avega17

Active Member
I understand that sodium causes increases in blood volume via fluid retention, which then increases BP. And sodium is also involved in muscular contraction via excitation to release Ca++.

My question is: is there any benefit to adding some salt or sodium to my pre-workout? How about sodium bicarbonate? I do sweat a lot, so I am losing some there. Not really getting in any other electrolytes immediately pre- or intra-workout either.
 
sodium bicarbonate has benefits in itself. This would depend on how much sodium you are getting daily and how much you are getting in a pre workout meal
 
In for responses.

Here's my two cents and I'm no nutritionist. Unless you are eating super healthy, everything you eat is fresh, nothing pre-packaged, then I'm guessing you get enough sodium in your diet. Every non-fresh food I eat is crammed with sodium - mustard, seasonings(anything that adds flavor), yogurt, cottage cheese, turkey bacon, deli meat, canned tuna cheese, protein powders. I'm sure I'm forgetting others. I try my best to limit my sodium but it's hard.
 
rodefeeh said:
In for responses.

Here's my two cents and I'm no nutritionist. Unless you are eating super healthy, everything you eat is fresh, nothing pre-packaged, then I'm guessing you get enough sodium in your diet. Every non-fresh food I eat is crammed with sodium - mustard, seasonings(anything that adds flavor), yogurt, cottage cheese, turkey bacon, deli meat, canned tuna cheese, protein powders. I'm sure I'm forgetting others. I try my best to limit my sodium but it's hard.
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Looking back at my intake tracking from the past two weeks, it seems like i get around 2500 - 3500 mg per day, not including added salt which is pretty minimal anyways. I know the optimal range for healthy individuals is 2000 - 4000 mg per day, but I was wondering if dosing some immediately pre workout would confer any benefit to the workout.
 
cumminslifter said:
sodium bicarbonate has benefits in itself. This would depend on how much sodium you are getting daily and how much you are getting in a pre workout meal
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I'm getting about 500 mg about 3 hours pre-workout right now, an average of ~3000 mg a day.
 
avega17 said:
Looking back at my intake tracking from the past two weeks, it seems like i get around 2500 - 3500 mg per day, not including added salt which is pretty minimal anyways. I know the optimal range for healthy individuals is 2000 - 4000 mg per day, but I was wondering if dosing some immediately pre workout would confer any benefit to the workout.
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Wow, you're way ahead of me then :)
 
I put 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt in with my intra-workout along with 1/4 teaspoon potassium chloride just to get more electrolytes in during training.

I've also read the sea salt helps give you more of a pump especially used in conjunction with intra-workout carbs.
 
i dont really see adding salt benefiting you much then, you could look into sodium bicarbonate as it has benefits on its own as i stated before
 
I rarely add any salts to foods, but I also don't completely avoid it. Like another poster said, it's loaded in some of the processed foods/sauces.

Salts are an electrolyte, so some certainly won't hurt, but I'm not so certain adding it into your pre is beneficial unless you've downed quit a bit of water prior to, flushing out your electrolytes.

JXiiXViii said:
I've also read the sea salt helps give you more of a pump especially used in conjunction with intra-workout carbs.
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^^ and this too. Since I quit avoiding salts like a plague, I've noticed a little more of a fuller effect in the gym, or pump, and not just with sea salt. Mine are usually taken in the night before though.

You could always trial it out over a week and see how you respond to a little salts pre.
 
Never done a Keto diet but iirc there is recommendation to consume broth at certain points; I believe it's for muscle contractions and a pump. Not sure but maybe someone with more knowledge of the Keto diet can chime in on this.
 
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