The fact remains that the mechanisms that regulate sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the body are all interrelated, and the system is designed to depend primarily on sodium intake. Keep that balanced, and the rest almost take care of themselves. The PURE and other studies have shown that even people with salt-sensitive hypertension do best getting between 4 and 6 grams of sodium daily, which translates to 10-15 grams a day of table salt (sodium chloride). The only difference between salt-sensitive hypertensives and those without that problem seems to lie in the shape of the risk curve outside the sweet spot.
In general, most people who keep their sodium intake in this range have no need of futher electrolyte supplements, although some people do have problems that require them to take supplements. Over-supplementing can be just as disastrous as a mineral deficicency. Dr. Noakes poignantly describes how, after the sports-drink companies spotted a marketing opportunity in his message of athletes’ needing to hydrate, racers began ending up in the hospital and even dying from over-hydration. He’s had to modify his message to “drink to thirst,” in an attempt to prevent that.
