Can You Lose Nutrients Sweating?

Yes. Excessive sweating can lead to vitamin and nutrient deficiency.

What is sweat?

It is moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically in profuse quantities as a reaction to heat, physical exertion, fever, or even fear. More than that, your sweat glands are an essential part of your ability to cool your body. When your temperature rises, sweat glands release water where it then evaporates from the skin surface to cool the skin and blood below.

It is the combination of water, minerals and vitamins working together to produce electrolytes, which help move water around in our cells, as well as hold water where it's needed. When you sweat you don't just lose water and salt, but minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium and chloride. Vigorous workouts can also cause sweat to carry away B vitamins and vitamin C. As athletes, this is particularly concerning because of the role these vitamins and minerals play in our energy production, waste removal, and recovery.

It is important to remember even in the pool you sweat!

Iron is also lost through sweat, and can be a cause of anemia in some athletes. According to Dr. Elissa Rosen's blog on gaudianiclinic.com, "Exercise, particularly high intensity and endurance types, increases iron losses by as much as 70% when compared to sedentary populations."

Which means it is vital, not just for athletic performance but overall health to replenish and replace lost electrolytes, vitamins and most importantly water.

A Few Ways To Replace Electrolytes...

• Pickles

• Bananas

• Water, Sports Drinks, Coconut Water

• Eat Whole Foods

• Dairy- such as yogurt, cheese, or milk