Sweat no longer tastes salty, tastes bitter. Anyone else get this? What might the cause be?

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6 years ago 10/16/2018 2:47pm EDT

I tend to sweat more than average, and in the last couple weeks I noticed an odd sensation: my sweat doesn't taste very salty any more, but it does taste quite bitter. Anyone else ever experience this?

I drink gatorade 3-4 bottles a week, I don't eat too much or too little salt, and I have had no muscle cramps to speak of.

Background: I've gone from running 4-6 miles 3-4 days a week, around six months ago, and built up to running 6-10 miles just about every day for the past three months. I tend to run decently hard for the last 20 or so minutes every run, and that's when I tend to start sweating a lot.

Might it be related to fat loss? I've lost weight over the past couple months. I was about 40 pounds above my racing weight in college, now I'm closer to 20 lbs over. I haven't changed my eating habits at all, or gone out of my way to lose weight, other than increasing exercise.

6 years ago 10/16/2018 4:02pm EDT

re: El Swasso

You’re slowly transforming into a lemon from the inside out. ?

6 years ago 10/16/2018 4:30pm EDT

re: El Swasso

El Swasso wrote:
I tend to sweat more than average, and in the last couple weeks I noticed an odd sensation: my sweat doesn't taste very salty any more, but it does taste quite bitter. Anyone else ever experience this?
I drink gatorade 3-4 bottles a week, I don't eat too much or too little salt, and I have had no muscle cramps to speak of.
Background: I've gone from running 4-6 miles 3-4 days a week, around six months ago, and built up to running 6-10 miles just about every day for the past three months. I tend to run decently hard for the last 20 or so minutes every run, and that's when I tend to start sweating a lot.
Might it be related to fat loss? I've lost weight over the past couple months. I was about 40 pounds above my racing weight in college, now I'm closer to 20 lbs over. I haven't changed my eating habits at all, or gone out of my way to lose weight, other than increasing exercise.

Does it have an ammonia smell when you sweat?

If so, you are not getting enough carbs, and you are burning into your protein stores.

6 years ago 10/16/2018 5:36pm EDT

re: LoneStarXC

LoneStarXC wrote:
You’re slowly transforming into a lemon from the inside out. ?

Lemons taste sour, not bitter.

6 years ago 10/16/2018 6:11pm EDT

re: Alternate Reality

Alternate Reality wrote:
Does it have an ammonia smell when you sweat?
If so, you are not getting enough carbs, and you are burning into your protein stores.

I think I get plenty of carbs by way of eating, regularly, and having a couple (or more) beers every couple days. What you said about burning protein could be accurate though. My metabolism has definitely changed since I upped my mileage. I will look into burning muscle, or whatever term people use.

6 years ago 10/16/2018 6:18pm EDT

re: El Swasso

sounds to me like you're using some form of stimulant.

6 years ago 10/16/2018 6:24pm EDT

re: Alternate Reality

Alternate Reality wrote:
El Swasso wrote:
I tend to sweat more than average, and in the last couple weeks I noticed an odd sensation: my sweat doesn't taste very salty any more, but it does taste quite bitter. Anyone else ever experience this?
I drink gatorade 3-4 bottles a week, I don't eat too much or too little salt, and I have had no muscle cramps to speak of.
Background: I've gone from running 4-6 miles 3-4 days a week, around six months ago, and built up to running 6-10 miles just about every day for the past three months. I tend to run decently hard for the last 20 or so minutes every run, and that's when I tend to start sweating a lot.
Might it be related to fat loss? I've lost weight over the past couple months. I was about 40 pounds above my racing weight in college, now I'm closer to 20 lbs over. I haven't changed my eating habits at all, or gone out of my way to lose weight, other than increasing exercise.
Does it have an ammonia smell when you sweat?
If so, you are not getting enough carbs, and you are burning into your protein stores.

is this just bro science? by protein stores do you mean your muscles? and what if instead of upping carbs you simply took in more protein throughout the day?

6 years ago 10/16/2018 6:55pm EDT

re: BroScience1

I believe the issue is protein metabolism of any kind. If I recall correctly, break down protein quickly for fuel creates ammonia as a by product. Muscle breakdown is a bigger issue, but regardless fueling with protein is somewhat toxic.

6 years ago 10/16/2018 7:07pm EDT

re: Catabolism

Catabolism wrote:
I believe the issue is protein metabolism of any kind. If I recall correctly, break down protein quickly for fuel creates ammonia as a by product. Muscle breakdown is a bigger issue, but regardless fueling with protein is somewhat toxic.

I'm not sure I quite understood your post, can you elaborate?

6 years ago 10/16/2018 7:10pm EDT

re: El Swasso

Stop bathing in Alum?

6 years ago 10/16/2018 7:26pm EDT

re: problem solver

Your palate is just changing.

6 years ago 09/18/2019 3:38am EDT

re: El Swasso

i got that yesterday. i think it was DEET from anti-mosquito spray though. yuk yuk yuk

6 years ago 09/18/2019 4:05am EDT

re: HM0145

A possible cause is the (cat)ion balance of your sweat. Potassium and calcium ions taste (kind of) bitter. Only sodium ions taste salty. Check Google on salt replacers for more info.

6 years ago 09/18/2019 4:45am EDT

re: El Swasso

Have you been drinking a lot of IPA lately?

6 years ago 09/18/2019 7:54am EDT

re: hoppysweat

It's an old thread, but the most likely reason is dehydration where the sweat at the end of the run contains more urea than salt compared to the early part of the run.

6 years ago 09/18/2019 2:09pm EDT

re: most likely

Are you wearing hair gel or something? That always causes a bad taste for me.

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Sweat no longer tastes salty, tastes bitter. Anyone else get this? What might the cause be?

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