top of page

Hydration: How much is enough?

Did you know 50-60% of our body mass is made of water? Water consists of 75% of lean body mass. So how much should we be drinking?

Hydration is essential during performance and depends on the rate at which you sweat. The sweat rate depends on…

  • Body size

  • Gender

  • Fitness level

  • Genetics

  • Environment (temperature, wind velocity, humidity, etc.)

  • Intensity and duration of exercise

 

Why do we need to stay hydrated?

  • To maintain blood volume and restore fluid loss

  • To prevent dehydration (2-3 L of water is lost per hour)

  • To easily transfer nutrients to the body

  • To regulate body temperature

When to Hydrate?

Hydrate prior, during, and after exercise to replace lost fluids.

  • Before competition: drink 500 ml 2 hours before competition and another 500 ml 15 minutes prior to competition

  • During: ¼ a cup per 15-20 minutes during exercise

  • After competition: 1-1.5 L of fluid needs to be consumed for every 2 pounds lost during exercise

 

WATER IS #1!

Water is the best option when it comes to hydration. It quenches thirst and replenishes lost fluids. Sports drinks contain carbohydrates (sugars) and electrolytes (usually sodium and potassium). Flavored drinks can enhance palatability and promote fluid replacement, but should be used with caution. They often contain high amounts of sugar.

 

Tips for Consuming Sports Drinks:

  • Note the amount of sugars

  • Consider the duration/intensity of workout and the amount of fluids/electrolytes lost

  • Dilute your sports drinks with water

  • Don’t only rely on sports drinks. WATER IS #1!

 

Signs of Dehydration:​

  • Increased thirst

  • Increased fatigue/weakness

  • Increased perception of effort

  • Flushed skin

  • Dark colored urine

  • Increased heart rate and breathing

  • Impaired cognitive performance (ex: skills and coordination)

  • Gastrointestinal issues (ex: nausea)

  • Greater risk of heat illness

Over hydration:

  • Drinking too much can result in hyponatremia and dilute the blood

  • Hyponatremia = sodium levels in the blood are too low

  • Symptoms: nausea, headaches, fatigue, cramps

 

Rehydration:

  • Adding a moderate amount of sodium to beverage aids in rehydration

  • Why rehydrate?

  • To sustain thirst drive

  • ​Promote fluid retention​

  • Restore plasma volume

*Athletes should weigh themselves before and after competition to determine fluid loss.

 

Recommendations for Drinking:

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends…​

  • Drinking adequate fluids 24-hrs prior to an event

  • Drink about 500 ml (approx. 17 ounces) of fluid 2 hours before exercise to allow time to excrete excess water

  • Drink early and at regular intervals

  • Fluids should be cooler than environment temperature

  • Drink fluids with glucose and/or electrolytes if competition > 1 hour

  • Drink fluids with sodium during performance if competition > 1 hour to prevent hyponatremia

  • **Note: all these recommendations depend on the athlete’s sweat rate

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9303999

http://www.eatright.org/resource/fitness/sports-and-performance/hydrate-right/hydrate-right

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/trade-sports-drinks-for-water-201207305079

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/water-for-exercise-f

Featured Posts
Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
No tags yet.
Follow Us
  • Facebook Basic Square
  • Twitter Basic Square
  • Google+ Basic Square
bottom of page