Loving the Bite: Pre-Ride Sodium-Loading Lemonade

30
May
2013

You know who you are.  You’re encrusted in white salt, and you could wring out your jersey after an intense ride while others seem to barely need a shower.  You simply seem to sweat on rides significantly more than your friends. You know you need more sodium on the bike, especially with summer heat approaching, but it can be difficult to stay on top of it hour after hour on a long ride.  You need a nice little sodium head-start.  Well, it just so happens that this week’s Loving the Bite Recipe is for you…

Recipe of the Week: Pre-Ride Sodium-Loading Lemonade

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. cold water
  • 3 oz. lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp raw organic agave
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt

Pre-LoadLemonade (1)Instructions: Mix all ingredients well and drink 1-2 hours before a ride.  This drink will provide a 600 mg sodium pre-load.

Comments: Why add salt in pre-ride nutrition?

As the weather heats up, we all know sodium and electrolytes become more and more important on the bike.  Quite simply, you lose them through sweat, respiration, and urine.  Quite simply, you need them for fluid absorption, cellular function, brain function, and muscle function.  In fact, when you hear of “over-hydration,” it’s typically due to too much fluid without adequate electrolytes, not just too much fluid.

A remedy? The sodium pre-load.

I’m all for fueling proactively, and sodium’s no exception.  It takes time for your body to metabolize and use most nutrients  you consume including sodium.  And, they are not “used up” immediately, but are integrated as needed into the blood plasma and cells to promote electrolyte balance.

When you pre-load with sodium, you do two things proactively:

1)       You reduce your risk of going too low in sodium while on the bike, especially the first 60-90 minutes.  There is good evidence in studies that a high-sodium pre-load adequately supplies the body with enough sodium to maintain balance, even in very hot conditions and intense training, for this amount of time.  However, the pre-load in the studies was very high, at more than a teaspoon of salt in intervals beginning 2 hours beforehand.  And, the cyclists did NOT use sodium on the bike nor did they ride for longer than 90 minutes.  So, I hypothesize that a good pre-load start of sodium of ¼ tsp salt PLUS sodium on the bike (aim for 400-700 mg sodium per hour) is a great way to get a jump-start on sodium needs AND maintain balance in hot conditions even for longer than 90 minutes.

2)      Sodium in the blood stream increases blood volume.  It has what’s called an oncotic pressure, or a pressure that draws fluid to it.  If this extra fluid is useful in the body (such as when you begin losing huge amounts in sweat), it’s very beneficial to start out with more.  If it is not useful, it will flood into non-plasma, non-cellular space between tissues (known as 3rd-spacing) and cause swelling.  This is the fluid retention you experience after eating high-sodium foods all weekend.  Chronic overeating of sodium can also cause elevated blood pressure in some, as this oncotic pressure increases and stays at an increased level within an artery that can only stretch so much.  This is not the case during moderate or high intensity training and sweating.

Who should pre-load with sodium?

I believe it can be useful to most all outdoor athletes during the summer months.  However, it is especially useful to those who seem to sweat more than others (for any reason), whose skin is usually covered in salt after riding, and who have experience low sodium and bonking on previous rides.

But again, this is not a recipe to be used when you’re not training.

Although I believe some sodium, from natural healthy sources (like sea salt) is fine in everyday nutrition, it shouldn’t be taken overboard and used within drinks unless you are actively sweating or need to replenish electrolytes for whatever reason.  Not only may it contribute to elevated blood pressure, but it can also increase your sodium needs on the bike.  That’s right.  You cannot chronically pre-load.  This can increase your threshold needs for sodium and put you in a hole on your ride.  So, sodium pre-load right before your ride and with care.

Bonus Recipe: Beet & Sodium Pre-LoadPre-LoadLemonade (3)

Recently, we discussed the emerging research on beets and their effects on oxygen use and delivery to the muscles.  Why not go ahead and add some beets to this mix?  Either mix 8 oz. Pre-load lemonade w/ 8 oz. beet juice (still using full amount of sodium) OR add 2-3 tsp freeze-dried beet root powder to the recipe as written above.  Extra sodium and nitrates.  Really, you can’t beet it.

This week, get a jump-start on your sodium and fluid needs, especially if you feel like you sweat more than most.  When you stay “ahead” with fueling, you can ride confidently and finish strong.  One of the best feelings on two wheels.

Fuel Your Ride. Nourish Your Body.

 

Enjoy Your Ride
Pin It

2 Responses to “ Loving the Bite: Pre-Ride Sodium-Loading Lemonade ”

  1. Sarah on May 30, 2013 at 9:26 am

    I read this somewhere else this week too! I could have used this yesterday…. 😉
    Thanks for sharing!
    Sarah
    http://www.thinfluenced.com

    • Kelli, RD on May 30, 2013 at 5:04 pm

      No problem, Sarah – I hope you enjoy it! It’s definitely a good way to start, and very refreshing:)

Calendar

    March 2024
    M T W T F S S
     123
    45678910
    11121314151617
    18192021222324
    25262728293031

Archives

Sugar Alternatives for Energy and Hydration

Question: I am using the homebrew sugar formulations (sometimes added to green tea).  I am also trying to wean myself off 1/2 dose adrenalean “lip tonic delivery system” (biorhythm brand- caffeine, hoodia g, synephrine, yohimbe) capsule for energy.

My question is other than juice, can you suggest modifications in lieu of table sugar for energy and hydration.

Answer:

Both raw/organic honey or agave can work great in the homebrew (substitute in the same quantities for the sugar, or to taste), but you do have to shake well in order to make sure they don’t settle out.  Have you tried either of these?  Also, make sure to use at least the minimum amount of salt recommended in the homebrew as the temps rise, you need the sodium replacement if you’re sweating.

Sports Drink Homebrew

Please send us your questions for our Expert Sports Nutritionist, Kelli Jennings to “Ask the Sports Nutritionist“. Kelli Jennings is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for healthy eating, wellness, & sports nutrition. For more information go to www.apexnutritionllc.com.

Nutrition Tips