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Dry out before competition - Sodium restriction

Gadi Taroni

I never know where to start when it comes to diuretics and sodium cut before competition. ESPECIALLY when we’re talking about bikini division where you shouldn’t really be very dry.

Yeah, yeah.. we all know that the human body is 70% water and bla bla bla.. But is that enough to understand the importance of the role water has in our body.

The human body keep a set ratio of 70%-30% of intracellular to extracellular water.

This ratio is crucial for body normal functioning including cell processes and blood pressure.
Using diuretics or cutting off water would probably help you loosing extracellular water but also intracellular to make sure the ratio stays. So you are basically losing nothing but size..

Sodium keeps water in both intra and extra cells and has an important role in carbs synthesis (Sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 1 – SDGC1).
Sodium reduction also lead to lower blood volume which, in its turn decreases vascularity and muscle fullness.
However, the main reason not to restrict sodium level is actually our incredible glorious machine called the human body.
Your body wouldn’t let you put it in a risk.. well, it’d try to prevent the risk.

A research from 1990 has proven that we will never get the willing result but we will damage our body.

The researchers used a few individuals and restricted their sodium intake almost completely.
They checked 3 parameters:
1. Blood sodium levels
2. Urine sodium levels
3. Aldosterone levels.

Aldosterone hormone is released by the adrenal gland and causes the kidney to retain water and sodium.

Back to the research:
After 1 day of extremely restricted salt intake we could see a decrease in blood sodium levels, almost no change in aldosterone levels.

In the second day we could observe a lower decrease in blood sodium levels and an increased amount of aldosterone.

From day three and on blood sodium levels were back to normal while aldosterone levels tripled themselves.
During the six days urine sodium levels decreased gradually until minimal result of 99mg.

Now, if it was the only defense body system – then maybe it worth trying cutting sodium for a day or two.

But there is more…

Vasopressin – also known as ADH, AntiDiuretic Hormone is synthesized as a peptide prohormone in the hypothalamus affects the kidneys by regulating urinary excretion according to blood sodium and body water levels.
In simpler words – the kidney will conserve sodium by reabsorbing more sodium back into circulation and peeing out less.

This article barely scratching the ground of sodium advantages and the risk of restricted sodium diets and dry out methods.

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