Upping your salt intake is seldom your doctor’s advice, but in the few days leading up to a big ride or sportive that’s exactly what you should do. This gives you the perfect excuse to munch on crisps and other salty foods you might normally avoid.
The sodium in them helps protect your body against hyponatraemia, a condition caused by drinking too much water without enough sodium that can lead to disorientation, illness and worse.
Make creative breakthroughs
Writers, musicians, artists, top executives and all kinds of other professionals use exercise to solve mental blocks and make decisions – including Jeremy Paxman, Sir Alan Sugar and Spandau Ballet.
A study found that just 25 minutes of aerobic exercise boosts at least one measure of creative thinking. Credit goes to the flow of oxygen to your grey matter when it matters most, sparking your neurons and giving you breathing space away from the muddle and pressures of ‘real life’.
You’re developing a positive addiction
Replace a harmful dependency – such as cigarettes, alcohol or eating too much chocolate – with a positive one, says William Glasser, author of Positive Addiction.
The result? You’re a happier, healthier person getting the kind of fix that boosts the good things in life.
Loved this article! It’s great to know that my salty snack cravings can actually be beneficial before a big ride. Thanks for the insight!
Exercise and creativity boost together? Sign me up! Thanks for sharing these useful tips.
Interesting read. Never thought about the positive impact of sodium in this context. Will definitely try this before my next cycling event.
The part about replacing negative addictions with positive ones really resonated with me. Great motivation to keep cycling!
This is a fantastic way to look at snacking. I’ve always felt guilty, but now I have a good reason to enjoy those chips!