Salt is one of four electrolytes, so in salt tabs you're missing three.

Positively charged species:
- Sodium ions (Na+)
- Potassium ions (K+)
- Calcium ions (Ca2+)
- Magnesium ions (Mg2+)

Negatively charged species:
- Chloride ions (Cl-)
- Hydrogen phosphate ions (HPO 2-)
- Hydrogen carbonate ions (HCO -)

Most sports products (drinks, caps, gels, etc) don't contain all these in a balanced form but they're better than nothing for maintaining ionic and hydrostatic homeostasis. To trot out the big scientific words.

thanks girls. More questions coming later

stick with Mnt. DEW
they have not tried to mess with it since Robin started drinking it in 1969 or so and she is still running (EVERYDAY not some days ,not most days , MATCH THAT GATORLODE /ADE - TIGER AID
AND SUPPLEMENT with red fish daily.

nothing like a little high fructose corn syrup to keep you healthy. Not to mention all the phytochemicals in red foods :D

it's cool that you know so much about science but I don't understand any of those letters, numbers and technical words, "ionic and hydrostatic homeostasis?" Have you tried Zumba yet?

for most athletes, gatorade or gels or bloks that have electrolytes will be fine.

Some athletes are high-salt sweaters and need to salt supplement. I nearly ALWAYS crave salty foods after workouts.

The longer the distance of your event - long distance tri, for instance - electrolyte replacement becomes critical.

Salt tablets are electrolytes. A truer name here would be electrolyte replacement, that is replacing those electrolyte lost in training. Sodium is by far the most lost in sweat and urinary fluids so is part of most tabs. Replacement suggests more than just ingesting these but implies absorption into the bloodstream. The other salts mentioned are less well taken up thru the GI tract and are limited or left out compared to soduim in electrolyte replacement.
It's quite variable how much of these salts one needs or can handle thru absorption. Distress is common in triathlon often due to less absorption under higher exercise situations.

More electrolytes is not often better.

takes some extra calcium during workouts to counter Ca loss from exercise. Not a bad idea for athletes with bone issues, her specialist says. She's taking it specifically during or right after; can't remember which.

I did the free class at the Y two Thursdays ago. Loved it! I definitely plan on going again, but it's hard to manage w/ my work schedule.