severe body cramps

A friend of mine is having a problem when cycling distances over about 70 to 80 km. He's cruising along and feeling fine, then suddenly his whole body seizes up into a kind of cramp and he cant continue. After a rest he can go on gently. Of course he's under doctors examinations, but I just wondered if any of you have had similar experience? Is there anyting he could be lacking/overindulging in? thanks!

Perhaps overindulging in doctors examinations.
Cramp is caused by salt deficiency. A drink heavy in plain salt will bring instant recovery. Sports drinks and like help keep up balance, but the salt is the biggy. Salt tablets are of little use. Just plain stuff in water.
You're welcome.

He says its more like a seizing up than a regular cramp. Assuming it is the salt thing, how much salt to water would you recommend?

When you talk about 'salt', its important to realise that the body needs two types of salt that your body needs - Potassium Choride and Sodium Choride. Table salt only includes the latter. Potassium and Chlorine ions are vital for the processing of ATP in your muscle fibres (therein is the limit of my biological knowledge).

I agree with dotravel that the problem your friend has is probably due to a lack of salt, but don't make the mistake of thinking that just upping salt in your diet will cure this problem - there are negative health implications for having too much salt in your diet.

In an emergency, on tour, i have heard it said that mixing a 2:1 mix of salt and sugar into water will provide a crude energy drink, especially if you are suffering in hot weather. However, only a properly formulated sports drink will have the correct mix of KCL and NaCL. Your friend should experiment with sports drinks on his ride. These are of course expensive when bought as liquids in local shops, the cheapest way is to buy powdered drinks in fairly large quantities - you will get them in most bike shops, pharmacies, health food shops, etc.

If he still has the problem after taking recommended quantities of sports drinks, then there may be another issue - possibly with general diet or eating patterns, or possibly something else. Everyones body seems to react a little differently to exertion, most people address these problems through trial and error with diet and riding style. If the problem still persists, then of course a doctor should be consulted to see if there is an underlying problem.

oops, i meant 2:1 mix of sugar to salt, the latter ratio would be almost undrinkable.

thanks so much for your help, I'll pass the info along.

Salt is just one reason for cramps and not everyones. Personally Magnesium is the answer for me when I am cramping during exercise. My understanding is that Potassium Choride and Sodium Choride are involved in the contraction while Magnesium is involved in the relaxation of the muscle.
Dan

One thing I have heard is that you need to drink the electrolytes or sports drinks BEFORE you start exercizing. Another source for correct ratios could be medical rehydration crystals, such as if you have diarrhea.

Not disagreeing with anything. Have never done a study, but the label on common table salt, in this country, lists Potassium iodate [whatever that is,, but think mb it's good stuff] and Sodium Chloride [mainly] plus other trace elements. Mb, mb not. [plain plain salt is labeled as just that. not so common available - here] Whatever. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of water works. Any more than that and it will probably come up faster than it went down. Easy with cold water, not so with warm.
Without going technical, perhaps there be a difference between recovery levels and perfect balance. IF it is cramp, fast recovery is good.
Simple thing to try. It works for you, or it doesn't. Will know near immediately. Works for most all people.

[Salt was linked with heart problems. When doctors went overboard on removing all salt from diets, they suddenly found untold other problems emerged. How stupid was that. We most of us know the body requires salt. Sweat in exercise strips salt out fast. Everything in moderation proportion. ]

The powder rehydration drinks available are good as they are designed in balance with best trace elements. Obviously better to take them before the body becomes depleted then after. Trickle effect. When I do a trip that I know will be hard in hi temperatures I take a few packets with me. [essential for after a dose of the shits which strips the salt from the body fast] Sort of know when need to dip into them. Sort of same feeling. With sever cramp, it is common salt that works fast.

Whoops. 'before the body becomes depleted then after'. 'Than' after.