Can athletes eat more sodium?

Yes, many athletes can consume additional sodium because sodium is lost through sweat. The sodium requirements of athletes vary and depend on factors such as exercise intensity and duration, ambient temperature, body size, age, sex, and clothing.

Rehydrating with only water after long workouts and/or in hot weather can lead to low blood sodium levels and a condition called hyponatremia, which can quickly become fatal. Athletes can prevent hyponatremia by consuming food and beverages that contain sodium during and after exercise

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. The RDA for sodium is 2.4g/day, which is about one teaspoon, however, many people exceed this on a daily basis.