How much SALT do you take on a trip?

[Keeled Over]

No additional seasoning for me. We rarely add salt to anything at home either.

In my younger days of climbing the 46 I would begin consuming Gatorade and bring salted cashews for the climb. This dramatically reduced any leg cramping.

Cashews are now no salt. Pringles no longer allowed. My surgeon - whose kids I am putting through college 1 organ at a time - is an outdoorsy guy so we can easily discuss this stuff. With the MyChart software we track test results so I can go back years and track performance of of my parts. I encourage people to do the same - catch changes in the body as proactively as possible.

In this case I can track the sodium in my system over time and monitor it to make sure it stays in check. Salts a killer.

From Erica above -

HOWEVER, PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE OR KIDNEY DISEASE NEED TO ASK THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT APPROPRIATE REHYDRATION LIQUIDS.

Correct - with my surgeon I agreed to always mix Gatorade 50/50 with water, but don't pound it. Consume slowly and drink before I get thirsty. Observe via YC's comment above - "......monitor your pee."

 

[PaddlingPitt]

Kathleen and I don’t use salt very much anymore. At home, we salt corn-on-the-cob and hard-boiled eggs. On canoe trips, we take a small set of salt and pepper shakers, but rarely use them. Kathleen dehydrates all of our suppers. So It’s regular food, and doesn’t need salt. We take a daily bag each of gorp, that includes nuts and cashews. Not because of potential salt for our diet, but because we like it. We have never suffered leg cramps because of too little salt. We have always viewed extended canoe trips (4-6 weeks) as a joy, and not something that will assault our health. We just go. But that’s just our approach, which could be completely naive. On the other hand, we have always arrived stronger at the end than at the beginning of the trip.

 

[yknpdlr]

with my surgeon I agreed to always mix Gatorade 50/50 with water, but don't pound it. Consume slowly and drink before I get thirsty. Observe via YC's comment above - "......monitor your pee."

Most canoe racing paddlers and backpackers I know, including myself, do not like straight full strength gatorade. I dilute it with 2/3 water as optimum for me in taste and effectiveness.

 

[Odyssey]

We take salt and pepper and spices to season our food on trips, but a little goes a long way. We measure in pinches, if used at all.
We're all danged and blessed by our genes. My wife has hers and I have mine. We're dealing with it.

We season our food sensibly, both in the home and in camp. We shun excess and embrace moderation. It's amazing how salty or sweet pre-prepared food tastes after you've spent half a lifetime avoiding that. And so we continue to avoid processed foods. I spend more time in the grocery store reading labels than lapping aisles. Gms per serving. % of daily intake. $ per 100gms. We do not overtly count calories but do judge what goes into our grocery cart. And our meals. For the upcoming family gathering she has made a moose stew for the big game eaters, we're making a vegetarian lentil/mushroom loaf for those of that persuasion, and I'm baking a Spanish orange cake for the sweet teeth. Being a potluck means there'll be something for everyone. Means it'll be easier for me to be picky, with one eye on my plate and another on the light, remembering my genes.

 

[Black_Fly]

I take a small shaker. I’m struggling with oil right now. I always take too much or run out when the fishing is good. Thinking 12 oz for a 10 day trip, but I could be wrong.

 

[TXRiverRunner]

I carry this little double ended salt and pepper shaker. I like to grill burgers, so I will salt & pepper them. I use it for scrambled eggs as well. It's pretty small, but usually last several trips before I have to refill it.

Amazon.com

 

[DougK]

a small film canister (remember those ? ) of salt for fish in case I actually catch one..
plenty of salt in any commercial dehydrated meal, won't need to add to those.

as you mention - it is also useful sometimes for first aid etc. Since the last trip with a young man who had severe gastro distress, we included packages of electrolytes. We ended up making a solution with sugar and salt, kept him somewhat hydrated during the 12-hour paddle out and 4-hour drive to the nearest ER..