Ben Greenfield explains why salt is crucial for hydration and athletic performance, debunking the myth that salt is bad for you. He shares his experience with electrolyte imbalance during triathlons and why a properly formulated electrolyte product matters for recovery.
I remember when I raced Ironman triathlon, I would be out in super hot, arid conditions like this, and I would sweat profusely. I would often go to bed at night with my heart rate pounding in my ears. I would get cramps, my toes would tighten up at night, and I always felt like there was just something a little bit off. And then during one of our team camps, an exercise physiologist visited the camp and did what's called a sweat sodium analysis on me and a bunch of the other athletes. And it turns out based on that sweat sodium analysis, I was losing like three times the amount of electrolytes in my sweat as the average athlete. Well, that was a big light bulb moment for me because at that point, I not only started adding more salt and electrolytes to my food and my water, but I also started to study the science of salt. And when I dug into the science, I realized that I had been misled. Even studying nutrition for five years at college, I'd been misled and taught that salt is bad for you. And that exceeding 2 grams of salt a day could cause high blood pressure and acidity and leaching of minerals from the bones, all this crazy stuff. And it turns out there's like a shred of truth to that, because isolated sodium chloride, such as what you'd find in ultra processed foods, or let's say the average table salt shaker at a restaurant, yes, that's isolated sodium chloride. And it's not that great for you. But electrolytes that offer you a full spectrum of minerals, not just sodium, but potassium and magnesium. And all of your minerals, well formulated in the right ratios, is actually fantastic for your physiology, for your function, for your performance, and for your recovery. So when I started using electrolyte, similar to this element that I'm about to take a shot of right now, I go through about three packets of these bad boys a day. What I realized was that.
Not only did I start sleeping better, my cramping went away, my performance improved, my recovery improved. I started adding electrolytes and salt to almost every single meal, every single glass of water from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. I probably get almost 6 grams of salt a day, but from good, clean sources that are in the proper ratios, just like element. So.
What is element? It's a formula, a powdered formula, and now they actually have canned drinks as well that offers you all of your critical salts, but in the right ratios, without a whole bunch of isolated sodium chloride. It fights cramping, it Helps performance, it helps recovery. It tastes fantastic. I mix their chocolate flavors in my coffee in the morning. I use the watermelon salt flavor like I have right now. It's probably one of my favorites. They have a raspberry that I absolutely enjoy. I even made margaritas for my wife's birthday party last week. Low sugar, fantastic margaritas with their citrus salt flavor. So anyways.
Element has cracked the code on electrolytes. If you're not on the salt is not bad for you bandwagon, then you need to be. So check these folks out if you want salt delivered in a very tasty manner in the proper ratios, very well formulated from a scientific standpoint. It's called Element. Here's to less cramping and better performance and recovery.
I've taken an even deeper dive into the benefits of salt and why we don't need to be scared of good sources of salt. I haven't interviewed the author of a book called the salt fix, Dr. James DiNicolantonio, and he and I talked a lot about all the benefits you get from really good sources of salt. A smart salt and electrolyte replenishment solution that isn't full of all the caffeine and fillers and colors and crap and preservatives that you tend to see in the average electrolyte replenishment formula. Whole bunch of tasty packets chock full of the exact amount of electrolytes that you need. Pour, pour it into water, dissolves almost immediately, has great flavor. I love this on airplanes when I travel. It's kind of satiating too. When you drink an electrolyte drink, sometimes it makes you quit thinking about food because a lot of times you don't need calories, you just need electrolytes. Tons of great flavors. Just launched their line of sparkling drinks that have the same electrolyte formula, but that are done for you in the can.
They're fantastic. They're big, which I like because I can stay super well hydrated with these things. That's the citrus salt flavor again. I could pour that over the rocks with a little tequila, if you know what I'm saying. Fantastic ingredient profile. These things are sweetened with natural stevia extract. Same electrolyte profile as the stick packs that I absolutely love. I recommend you try both. A game changer for recovery, for performance, for appetite satiety. Changing the salt game forever.
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