Is Salt Good For You After A Workout?

After a workout, your muscles and liver will be depleted of vital minerals such as salt and magnesium. Along with the muscle building amino acid leucine, and carbohydrates.

When you reach for your post workout meal, try adding more salt, such as Himalayan salt.

Furthermore, salt will lower cortisol levels and increase blood pressure. This is important post-workout, as it will aid in the reduction of oxidative stress, which speeds up recovery.

Not only that, salt will help to raise your blood pressure, which will also help to maintain your mood and cognitive functions.

Benefits of Using Salt After A Workout

To really understand how salt will benefit you post workout, it first makes sense to run through some of the benefits salt has on muscle recovery and performance.

That’s not all, as previously mentioned, salt can reduce cortisol levels. Which is a very important post-exercise. As exercises adds to the levels of stress put on the body. The more stress we experience, the longer it takes for our bodies to recover.

Shuttles nutrients into the muscles

A study which simulated space flight while monitoring the effects of salt on the participants showed that salt reduced excess fluid loss. While speeding up the energy production process from the foods we eat. (01)

This highlights the important role salt plays in delivering amino acids into our muscles for repair, along with other functions such as fluid regulation and carbohydrate usage.

Improves energy levels

If you’ve ever felt light-headed, dizzy, unable to focus, then, there’s a chance you could be low in salt. Adding a pinch of salt to your post-workout meal or water bottle can help to elevate your mood and energy levels.

This is also in part thanks to its ability to reduce stress levels. As salt regulates the mineral secretion of aldosterone – which is responsible for the reabsorption of sodium – thus affecting blood pressure and our energy levels. (02)

Reduces recovery time

Potentially, one if the most beneficial aspects of salt post workout is how it helps to restore our energy levels. This happens as salt stimulates the mitochondria’s role in producing energy throughout the body – the type of energy we need to send amino acids into the muscles for repair.

Helps nerve impulses

Salt can even help improve nerve impulses, which are needed for optimal muscle contractions. Furthermore, it can also increase these nerve impulses in the brain – helping us to maintain a sharp mind.

If you want to learn more about how salt works: Read My In-Depth Article on Salt Here

How Much Salt To Use After A Workout

By adding just a pinch of salt to your post-workout meal or water bottle, it can make a big difference to how you’ll feel and recover post workout.

For an accurate dosage, aim for 1-4 mg of good quality salt, such as Himalayan salt.

If you want to take things a step further, try adding salt to coconut water along with some type of fruit – natures own electrolyte mix.

Alternatively, you can buy coconut powder crystals and make your own post workout electrolyte drink with salt and fruit.

Conclusion

If you were ever confused with the question: is salt good for you after a workout? I hope that after reading this article, you’ll know the answer.

Yes, salt is a very good post workout. It will increase energy production, provide important nutrients into the muscles at a quicker rate, while keeping you physically and mentally energised.

For any more questions surrounding salt and how it can benefit you, feel free to get in touch with me, or alternatively, leave your comments in the section below.

Resources:

(01) Increased salt consumption induces body water conservation and decreases fluid intake. (source)

(02) How to boost your energy with SEA SALT. (source)