Keeping your body hydrated is always very important, but when you exercise, it’s even more so. No doubt you’ve heard trainers – like our own – harp on you or others about keeping adequately hydrated. Well here is exactly why keeping hydrated is so important, other than satiating your thirst.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that everyone drink 17 ounces of fluid two hours before exercise to start the needed hydration process and to help the body force out any excess water. Despite how crazy it sounds, the only way to lose retained water is to drink more water. While exercising, the College recommends that people drink early into the workout and at regular intervals throughout in order to replace the fluids they are losing through sweat. Constantly replenishing lost water helps the body continue to transport nutrients and gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), remove toxins within the body, and regulate body temperature (which of course, helps prevent overheating or muscles freezing up in the cold).
Keeping yourself well hydrated during a workout will also greatly reduce the risk of injury. If the body doesn’t have enough fluid, nothing will work as well as it should, increasing the possibility of severe cramping, nausea, fatigue, and muscle strain.
Always keep a bottle of water or a sports drink with you while you exercise, and be sure to drink plenty both before and after your workout. Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated throughout your day as well, whether you are working out or not. If you feel thirsty, your body has already started the dehydration process albeit minor at this point. Drink every half hour while not exercising, and then drink at regular intervals while exercising. If you have any questions about how well you are keeping hydrated while working out, please be sure to talk to our resident nutritionist, Dr. Quin.
Try it just once and see how much better you will feel as well as how much better your workout will be!
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