SALT TABLETS?

[pete]

i started reading this book the other day its called BLACKJACK-33. Maybe some of ya have read it, iam just in the book, its about on of the Mobile Guirrela forces mission in Vietnam in 1967 called Blackjack-33. Alright in this one part they are deep in the jungle, and the point man is hacking away with a machete through the vines. His buddy to his rear is telling the reader how much water he has on him, 6 quarts and he is drinking a quart an hour. Than he says that he pops two salt tablets into his mouth. WHAT i say to myself, what is he doing. May be somebody can tell me, why the heck he is popping SALT TABLETS IN HIS MOUTH? maybe iam missing something, i dunno. I do know salt dehydrates you, yahhhh.

[SILENTOP]

I don't know who told you that salt dehydrates you cause it's not true. It helps the body retain more water, sodium actually helps cells retain more water that way you loose less water in your urine. I'm a triathlete and making sure you have enough sodium is extremely important.

SILENTOP

[Ursula]

SilentOp is right that you need salt. If you're going through that much water and sweating that much out, you need to maintain salt levels in your system. Most people get enough salt in the food they eat, but in situations where you're working hard, not eating, and drinking and sweating out a lot of water, using salt tablets can be helpful. For SAR work I do we carry oral rehydration salts in the med kits to help replace salt and electrolytes. The dangerous side to salt is when you get too much, like from drinking seawater.

-U

[pete]

I never new that, i have always been told that salt dehydrates you, I guess you learn something new every day!!!

[RAT]

Too much salt does dehydratre you. Salt tablets in the 60's 70's and early 80's were what Dr's thought were the best way to restore water and hydrate into your system. Since this time the medical profession has learned diffrent. Such as Ursula has said. That is more like a saline solution. The medical professionis always changing and so will the way we take meds.
My .02
RAT OUT!!!

[pomofo]

Sodium is also important in neural conduction; sodium ions leaching into the axons cause them to spike and thereby conduct to the neurons. I would assume that without enough sodium your reflexes would be somewhat slowed if they remained intact at all. I'm not an expert in neuropsychology so I don't know if this is an accurate assessment but I'm sure it plays some role.