A salty taste in the mouth isn't usually a cause for alarm. Changes in taste can often occur as a result of medications, sinus infections, strep throat and even dental disorders, such as gingivitis. When this salty taste is a result of diet and exercise, it's typically caused by one of two things.
Dehydration
When associated with exercise, the salty taste you're experiencing is likely the result of dehydration. More strenuous physical activities can lead to excessive sweating. If you don't replace the fluids lost through your sweat, the body no longer has enough water to function normally or dilute your saliva, which causes the change in taste.
Fluid Replacement
To avoid dehydration, drink at least 1 to 3 cups of water prior to exercise, and continue to replenish fluids throughout your chosen athletic pursuit as well as after the activity. Cool water is your best choice, but you can also choose to drink a sports drink containing electrolytes. If dehydration is severe, however, replenishing fluids in this fashion is often ineffective. In this situation, you'll need intravenous fluids and salts.
Diet
Though rare, nutritional deficiencies can lead to a salty taste in the mouth, so your diet could be causing the change in taste. Two of the most common nutrients known to cause impaired or altered taste are zinc and vitamin B12. Look at your diet to see if the foods you're eating contain enough of each nutrient. Women need 11 mg of zinc each day, while men need 8 mg. The recommended intake of vitamin B12 is the same for both genders, coming in at 2.4 mcg.
Supplementation
Nutritional deficiencies are primarily treated through a change in diet. For zinc, look to meats, poultry, seafood, legumes, cheeses, milk and grains, such as oatmeal. For vitamin B12, increase your intake of meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy as well as many breakfast cereals. If dietary changes aren't enough to correct nutritional deficiencies, you can then turn to a dietary supplement to bring both zinc and vitamin B12 to the recommended amounts per day.
References
- Riverside Health Reference: Salty Taste in Mouth: What Causes It? Aug. 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Dehydration; Jan 2011
- National Institutes of Health: Taste -- Impaired; March 2009
- National Institutes of Health: Dehydration; Aug. 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Zinc
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12
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