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The Importance of Hydration

By Mandy | In Exercise Tips | on June 4, 2013

“Maintenance of an adequate fluid intake is essential for optimal athletic performance”

“Being more than two percent dehydrated in warm environments causes a decline in performance,” says Robert W. Kenefick, Ph.D., a physiologist with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.

Higher levels of dehydration impair mental concentration, alertness, muscular strength and endurance, physical work capacity, and increase risks of heat injury.

During exercise, “thirst” is an unreliable guide to determine when to drink fluid, since exercise reduces the thirst sensation.

The most practical method of ensuring adequate fluid replacement during and after exercise is through regular assessment of body weight.  Each 1 lb lost should be replaced with 1 L of fluid.

Monitoring urine color and volume is another useful method of assessing hydration. Athletes should excrete at least 900ml of clear urine daily.

To maintain adequate hydration, sweat loss must be replaced.

Fluid consumption includes all liquids plus water in foods.

Fluid Consumption Before Exercise

  • Drink about 500 ml (about 16 ounces) of fluid about two hours before exercise.
  • Goal: promote proper hydration before exercise or competition.

Fluid Consumption During Exercise

  • Start drinking early.
  • Drink fluids regularly.
  • Consume good quality sports drink. (Endura, E load, Cytomax, Heed etc)
  • During intense exercise lasting longer than one hour: Carbohydrate (Sports Drink) ingestion at a rate of 30-60 grams per hour is recommended to delay fatigue.
  • Goal: replace fluid at a rate that approximately equals water loss from sweating.

Fluid Consumption After Exercise

  • Drink about 500 ml (about 16 ounces) of fluid for every 1 lbs body weight lost
  • Recovery drinks containing properly balanced carbohydrate protein and sodium can be used to aid in repair and rehydration and avoid painful post exercise stomach cramps.

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