The human body is made up of more than 60% water - tough to believe, but true. Water is a life force that drives us in every moment of every day, probably the single most important factor in our lives. Doctors recommend that we drink several glasses of water during the day in order to promote our health and well-being. We make sure to stay hydrated, knowing that it is a very important part of our energy levels and balance at all times.
The functions of water in the body are manifold. It is responsible for the transportation and nutrients and the elimination of waste products. Water lubricates joints and tissues and facilitates digestion. It regulates temperature through sweating and plays an important role in the function of several organs and glands.
Hydration is extremely important in daily life, regardless of physical activity. When intense athletic activity is added in, however, hydration becomes an even more vital issue.
Exercise causes us to sweat, meaning that our bodies lose water. When we lose water, our bodies are forced to work harder. Take this statistic for example - a loss of just one percent of body weight because of sweating is related to a significant drop in blood volume and an increased effort on the part of the heart. Dehydration is also a leading cause of cramps, dizziness, fatigue and heat stroke.
These are just a few of the many reasons why it is important that athletes pay special attention to hydration will working out.
Monitoring hydration and figuring out when to rehydrate is a trial-and-error process. All individuals are different, and each person must decide what works for him or her. The amount of fluid to take in during sport depends upon the length and intensity of exercise as well as the individual athlete. When taking into consideration other factors such as high altitude and temperature, the hydration process can be even more complicated. With time, however, most athletes come to know what works and what doesn't.
Nowadays, hydration is not achieved only through water. While many athletes insist that good old H2O is the best remedy for a thirsty throat, tons of sports drinks are on the market today. It is sometimes hard to know which sports drinks are worth it.
There is no conclusion when it comes to sports drinks. They do contain electrolytes important to take in after super intense work-outs, but they often are composed by tons of sugar as well.
The best idea is to simply proceed with caution. Remember that sports drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde have calories - about 200 per bottle, in fact. Such calories are great to take in after a highly intense work-out, not necessarily after a 20-minute walk.
Hydration is key to performance in physical activity and to well-being as a whole. Get your water bottle ready the next time you head to the gym - you may be surprised at what a difference it makes.
The functions of water in the body are manifold. It is responsible for the transportation and nutrients and the elimination of waste products. Water lubricates joints and tissues and facilitates digestion. It regulates temperature through sweating and plays an important role in the function of several organs and glands.
Hydration is extremely important in daily life, regardless of physical activity. When intense athletic activity is added in, however, hydration becomes an even more vital issue.
Exercise causes us to sweat, meaning that our bodies lose water. When we lose water, our bodies are forced to work harder. Take this statistic for example - a loss of just one percent of body weight because of sweating is related to a significant drop in blood volume and an increased effort on the part of the heart. Dehydration is also a leading cause of cramps, dizziness, fatigue and heat stroke.
These are just a few of the many reasons why it is important that athletes pay special attention to hydration will working out.
Monitoring hydration and figuring out when to rehydrate is a trial-and-error process. All individuals are different, and each person must decide what works for him or her. The amount of fluid to take in during sport depends upon the length and intensity of exercise as well as the individual athlete. When taking into consideration other factors such as high altitude and temperature, the hydration process can be even more complicated. With time, however, most athletes come to know what works and what doesn't.
Nowadays, hydration is not achieved only through water. While many athletes insist that good old H2O is the best remedy for a thirsty throat, tons of sports drinks are on the market today. It is sometimes hard to know which sports drinks are worth it.
There is no conclusion when it comes to sports drinks. They do contain electrolytes important to take in after super intense work-outs, but they often are composed by tons of sugar as well.
The best idea is to simply proceed with caution. Remember that sports drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde have calories - about 200 per bottle, in fact. Such calories are great to take in after a highly intense work-out, not necessarily after a 20-minute walk.
Hydration is key to performance in physical activity and to well-being as a whole. Get your water bottle ready the next time you head to the gym - you may be surprised at what a difference it makes.
About the Author:
Damian Papworth, an enthusiastic amateur cyclist, recently put together the Cycling Water Bottle website. He knows how crucial a bike water bottle is to hydration on the big outings.
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