Read 27 times since Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Hydration is critical when it comes to exercise. Whether you are working out in a gym twice a week, or playing a sport, you need to keep hydrated to ensure a good performance and effective results. Hydration is important from a general health perspective, and athletes or exercise enthusiasts are especially susceptible to the effects of dehydration during physical activity.
Headaches are a common symptom experienced during the onset of dehydration, blood pressure can decrease too. This may lead to dizziness or fainting, which is dangerous for an athlete but particularly so for anyone in a gym. There is equipment in a gym that could be particularly hazardous upon fainting, and as many forms of exercise in a gym are machine based there is an especial danger of causing injury as a result of dehydration. It's not just health, as mentioned previously your performance will suffer without adequate hydration. Athletes may suffer a decrease in performance of up to thirty percent.
An obvious solution for preventing dehydration is taking on enough water. This is adequate; however the best forms of hydration introduce electrolytes into the body. Electrolytes are produced naturally in the body, and are essentially used to transmit electrical impulses between the cells. They are in essence used to communicate information, and therefore ensure proper functioning of the body's system. This is why, during the onset of dehydration, people experience dizziness, headaches and an inability to think or move properly - as the balance of electrolytes is diminished and thus the body is unable to function as it should.
The most effective way to take on electrolytes is by means of an electrolyte drink. These are purposefully designed to introduce an optimum balance needed to achieve adequate hydration and replace the electrolytes excreted during exercise. The concentrated nature of these drinks means that you actually have to consume a smaller volume of liquid than if rehydrating with water alone.
There are a few other considerations when choosing an appropriate drink for athletes or exercise enthusiasts. Some drinks are manufactured specifically for use outdoors, whereas others are made for use indoors or in high temperatures. The latter may not be as effective for an athlete whose sport takes place outdoors, and may result in less effective hydration. It depends on the needs of an individual, so care should be taken in choosing a product. The speed of absorption is another consideration. Some drinks are designed to be absorbed by the body very quickly, whereas others are designed for a slow release through carbohydrates present in these kinds of drinks. An athlete may not be able to guarantee an opportunity to take a break in play and rehydrate with a quickly absorbed product, so a slow release kind may be preferred.
All in all, hydration is an important issue to consider when exercising. It is a good idea to maintain a sensible attitude towards this issue in order to avoid the effects of dehydration and loss of performance. A simple rule of thumb is if you feel thirsty, have a drink. Water will be adequate, but an electrolyte rich sports drink will be the most effective. In any case, always remember to replace liquids as they are lost. Jeffrey Nevil writes on a number of subjects including nuun hydration. To read more information about nuun hydration see http://www.u-thrive.com/nuun/10050-B/electrolyte-hydration-8-x-12-tabs-+-free-500ml-bottle.aspx
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