Re: Temperature

[James Lampert <jamesl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Leibowitz, Larry wrote:
> What does the salt do?

Since all life ultimately came from the sea, all life is dependent on a 
slightly salty environment.

We excrete salt in basically everything: urine, tears, and (more to the 
point) sweat. If we sweat too much, and we don't replace the salt we 
excrete, then we become salt-depleted. I'm told that the early symptoms 
involve extreme, unquenchable thirst. And the more we drink, the more 
salt we flush out of our systems, making us even more salt-depleted, in 
a vicious cycle.

Gatorade was developed as a means of replenishing not only salt, but 
other minerals flushed out in sweat. I'm told that unsweetened, 
unflavored Gatorade is quite beastly-tasting. Then again, I don't drink 
it in any flavor, so I have no direct experience.