Sweet tooth

Physical conditioning, and endurance in particular, is important for photographers. Recently, I came across an interesting discussion of the role of hydration plays in endurance. Basically, it is important to be hydrated, and more specifically, to have sufficient amount of electrolytes in the body, to avoid muscle cramps and exhaustion during physical exercise.

Having a sweet tooth may actually be beneficial from the hydration standpoint, because carbohydrates help retain water in the body. Not related to sugar per se, but I had been given advise by a kendo sempai while practicing in Kanazawa in the heat of a Japanese summer to eat more rice, bread, etc. to avoid dehydration during practice.

So, people who fight cravings for sweets by eliminating sugars from, may find themselves at the risk of dehydration. One counter-intuitive way of battling this effect is to increase the intake of salts. Which one of the two evils is the lesser one, is the question that remains open…