In the height of summer, people working and laboring in high-temperature conditions should supplement their diet and nutrition with more water, salt, and water-soluble vitamins.
Workers in high-temperature environments expend a large amount of energy and sweat profusely. Their body's physiological metabolism often undergoes changes, such as reduced secretion of saliva and gastric juices, and lower gastric acid concentration. Workers in high-temperature conditions may sweat about 3,000 to 5,000cc per person per day, with the maximum reaching 8,000 to 10,000cc (500 grams equals 500cc), which is 5 to 7 times more than the average person. Due to the large amount of sweat evaporation, inorganic salts such as potassium, sodium, and calcium, as well as water-soluble vitamins, are also lost with the sweat. Sweat contains 0.1% to 0.5% sodium chloride (salt). Workers in high-temperature conditions can lose 20 to 30 grams of sodium chloride with their sweat in a single day, which is 2 to 3 times the human body's daily intake. If the lost water and sodium chloride are not replenished in time, it can lead to disturbances in water and salt metabolism, causing a series of pathological symptoms. Early symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, sore limbs, and decreased physical stamina. In severe cases, it can lead to blood concentration, and even cause cramps or heatstroke and collapse.
So, how much water and salt should workers in high-temperature environments supplement per person per day? Generally, each person should supplement at least 5,000cc of water and 15 to 25 grams of salt per day (including salt from food). The method of supplementation can include frequently drinking salt water, with about 1 gram of salt added to every 500 grams of water being appropriate. You can also drink salt tea, salty mung bean soup, salty vegetable soup, and salt-containing soda water. This can not only relieve summer heat and quench thirst but also replenish the necessary salt in a timely manner. The principle of drinking water is to drink small amounts frequently, one or two teacups at a time. Do not drink too much or too quickly, as this can reduce sweat secretion and is beneficial for increasing appetite.
To protect the health of workers in high-temperature environments, the dietary and nutritional principles are a balanced diet with high calories, high protein, and high vitamins. The total calorie intake should be about 15% higher than that of ordinary workers, which is 3,300 to 3,500 kilocalories per day for moderate laborers and 4,000 to 4,500 kilocalories per day for heavy laborers. The daily diet should include a certain proportion of high-nutritional-value animal or plant-based proteins. For the vitamin supply of workers in high-temperature environments, water-soluble vitamins such as B1, B2, and C should be supplemented first. Workers in high-temperature environments should eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible to prevent certain vitamin deficiency diseases.