Proper Hydration During Exercise
You may always hear that water is important in order for us to live but you may not know exactly how it affects our body’s daily function. Second to oxygen, our body needs water to survive. We know that our body is composed of more than 70% water, making it the most important nutrient for the human body. In fact, research also shows that our brains are made up of over 80% water! See how important water is?
Since our body is composed mostly of water, it is but, necessary that we take in enough amount of it to support our daily physical activities. Water plays a vital role in transporting oxygen throughout the cells of the body. Thus, drinking water regularly replenishes your body and keeps it well hydrated and fully functioning.
Clearly, water plays an important role in our health. However, water nowadays has been replaced in most diets by soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened refreshments that don’t replenish the nutrients that our body needs. Those who drink beverages with alcohol and caffeine, which are diuretics, also need to drink more water to compensate for the loss. So we should keep in mind that water is healthier and it is necessary for leading ourselves towards a better health and a longer life.
It is not surprising then that nutrition authorities advise us to take eight 8-ounce of water daily. It is imperative however, to know that everyone’s need for water can vary greatly due to exercise, weight and temperature. The greater the weight, the greater also is the body’s need for water. You can check it by dividing your weight in pounds by two and the answer in ounce will be your body’s daily requirement of water. Say, for example, you weigh 200 pounds; your body’s daily water requirement will be 100 ounces.
When you exercise, your body needs more water than when you don’t. This is for because, during exercise, your body loses some amount of water through sweating. According to some research, for each pound lost when exercising, you need to drink 2 cups of water. The more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink more water. However, our body also loses some amount of water even when we are asleep. Hence, it is advisable to drink at least one glass of water before going to bed.
Additionally, some illnesses like diarrhea can make you dehydrated quite more quickly. So you should be drinking more water during these times. Other factors can affect how much water you need as well. High heat and humidity conditions can make you lose more water through perspiration, so additional water may be required.
Thus, whatever you do and wherever you go, always bring a bottle of water with you. Increase your water intake throughout the day. When exercising, be sure to have plenty of water on hand. If you’re doing a strenuous workout, you’ll surely need more water overall than your daily requirement. So, always make it a habit to drink water regularly for a healthier mind and a stronger body.
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