Originally Posted by
terrymorse
There's another reason to put salt in your drink: it helps transport liquid out of your gut and into your bloodstream. Riding with a belly full of plain water is not beneficial, and it can be unpleasant.
I make up my own drink mix powder, which is a simplified version of the World Health Organization's
Oral rehydration salts. It has only the stuff you need (sugar, salt, flavoring), and it's much cheaper than any commercial drink mix.
Terry's not fancy drink mix:
- glucose/dextrose - 400 g
- salt - 54 g
- lemon crystals - 38 g
?? You left out the water quantity. If I use any electrolytes at all, it's usually one regular Endurolyte cap per hour, so 60mg sodium/hour. That's plenty for normal temps. In hot weather, I'll take 2 caps/hr. But like I say, in the PNW I normally don't need any electrolytes. Our bodies do a great job of taking care of that for us. The motto is "less is more." Sloshy belly comes from too much of something. Pure water makes it go away, which is why I always have that with me. Plain water.