CALCIUM: ANOTHER WEIGHT LOSS STRATEGY

CALCIUM AND VIT D SUPPLEMENTATION

CALCIUM CUTS BONE LOSS

VITAMIN C - THE WONDER CURE

PMS - PROPER MULTIPLE SUPPLEMENTATION

CATARACTS AND ANTIOXIDANTS

CALCIUM & MAGNESIUM

A CRAMP "SOLUTION"

CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS

CHELATION & MINERAL BIOAVAILABILITY

MALNUTRITION AND THE ELDERLY

MAGNESIUM: ARE YOU "MARGINALLY" DEFICIENT?

MAGNESIUM: THE MEDICINAL MINERAL

YOUR HEALTH CARE DEBATE

THE OTHER DEBATE

"TIS THE SEASON TO BE STRESSED"

VEGETARIANISM: A 90'S APPROACH TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

WINTER BLUES AND HOLIDAYS

ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION

SHOULD YOU TAKE EXTRA VITAMINS

MACULAR DEGENERATION STUDY SUPPORTS SUPPLEMENTATION

WHAT DO HEART DISEASE, STROKES AND ALZHEIMER'S HAVE IN COMMON? 3 B VITAMINS

Water
The body's cells can malfunction if the cells become overheated. The water content of blood "collects" heat, and delivers it to the tiny blood vessels just beneath the skin's surface. The heat-containing water then passes through the blood vessel's walls to the skins surface. Once exposed to air, the water evaporates and releases its heat - cooling the body.

As exercise increases, the amount of water required for maintaining normal body temperature increases. Once the body runs low on water, the athlete becomes fatigued and weak.

Sometimes an athlete will experience muscle spasms (also called heat cramps), particularly in hot, humid environments. More severe, heat exhaustion (also referred to as heat collapse or heat prostration) may occur which is a condition marked by weakness, dizziness, nausea and profuse sweating. Heat stroke is the most severe condition marked by the cessation of sweating, extremely high body temperature and physical collapse.

Physical performance is improved if an athlete remains hydrated during exercise. Water is the best sports drink yet discovered, and for most athletic activities, it is all that is needed.

Electrolytes
Normal cell functions occur when the amount of water inside the body's cells is balanced with the amount in the fluid surrounding the cells. Electrolytes help to maintain this balance. The key electrolytes, sodium (located in the blood and in the fluid surrounding cells) and potassium (located inside cells) chemically attract water. Each attracts water to the outside or inside of cells to maintain the necessary water balance.

When the amount of sodium outside the cells exceeds the concentration of potassium inside, the sodium on the outside draws water out of the cells. The shift of fluids can disrupt normal cell functions. The body's adaptive mechanisms protects against this imbalance by causing excessive blood levels of sodium to be excreted in the urine. And, with the sodium goes large amounts of water.

Most athletes begin activities with enough sodium, potassium and other electrolytes. Those athletes who perform strenuous exercises in very warm environments or over several hours (i.e. marathon runners, triathletes) may lose valuable electrolytes. These athletes may benefit by consuming sport drinks which contain no more than 0.2% sodium and potassium by volume. (Higher levels of electrolytes enter the stomach and intestines and draw water away from the blood into the digestive tract - causing a loss of body water.)

Calcium
Reports on the beneficial effects of extra calcium to relieve leg cramps is considered anecdotal. However, it is know that removal of calcium from the blood results in muscular irritability or tetany (muscle spasm or convulsion). For that reason, calcium supplementation has been frequently recommended for muscle cramp relief.

While the cause of cramps remains a "scientific" mystery, drinking plenty of water and replenishing essential minerals and/or electrolytes with a multivitamin and mineral supplement maybe a healthy "solution" for those night time charley horses.

Copyright © July-August, 1992