A grain of salt

[Blaze]

I heard this "thing" (we'll call it a thing, cuz I don't want to call it a myth just yet), in which it says that a grain of salt is good for your muscles. In other words, salt returns water to your muscles or something like that. I can't find the article again so I dont remember the details of it.
But, bascially thats what is says. So, an okay amount of sodium, not heart clogging, is going to technically be good in the long run...any thoughts?

[.V.]

The idea that water follows sodium is an old and true one. Water does follow sodium. This is why people with hypertension are told not to eat extra salt because it will cause them to hold water in the vascular space and increase blood pressure more.

Recently this has been somewhat revisited and salt intake isn't thought to be as dangerous for blood pressure as once thought - but it does still have some effect.

Now as far as sodium moving into the muscle cells - yes sodium, postassium, calcium, mangnesium - all have an effect on water and everything else - all nutrients, electron flow in the nervous system moving in the right direction.

Now should one just suppliment with salt to try to improve this? No they should not. The reason why is because all of the electrolytes (the four minerals I mentioned before) have to work together to have the correct balance. That is why the sports drinks don't just have sodium in them. A little extra is fine - add a bit of salt to taste to your food if you like it. But as far as just taking loads of salt tablets or something like that without the other electrolytes could be detrimental - especially for your electrical system that controls muscle contraction - including the heart muscle.

I hope this makes sense - to totally explain it would take pages of discussion about electrolyte balance, acid/base balance, fluid balance...a very technical discussion. So I'll just sum it up very briefly:

A little salt with your food if you are eating a well balanced diet - fine.
Lots of salt as a suppliment - not fine.
Sports drinks that provide a balance of electrolytes - fine.

[maverick]

More than you would ever want to know about salts effects on the body:

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/sodium.php

[Maxgain]

Not gettin enough salt is something the modern population do not have to worry about

[Blaze]

Yes, it does make sense.

And I was not saying about NOT getting enough salt, I would never worry about that. It was the fact, that it helped to carry water to the muscles that simply intrigued me, so I wanted to find out if it was true or false.
Thanks guys

[Lady C]

Salt makes your body retain water. Water is stored in the muscle.