Hydration is Key
Staying hydrated it so important, especially when you are exercising regularly. Water is essential for every single one of your bodily functions. Without it, your body won’t be able to perform at its highest level.
So what is your water actually used for?
Well, considering your body is made up of about 55% water in women, it’s got to be used for something right? Some of the bodily functions that require water include:
- Regulates body temperature
- Lubricates joints
- Aids in transportation of nutrients into and around the body and waste products and toxins out of the body
- Used in digestion
- Used in both blood and lymphatic circulation
- Used in excretion
As I mentioned before, it is used in every bodily function so if I carried on we could be here for a while…
Why is keeping hydrated more important when you exercise?
It is extra important that you take in more water than usual before, during and after exercise.
Before exercise: It is important to take in extra water before you exercise as it gives your muscles the energy it needs for the exercise and ensures your heart does not have to worker harder than it needs to!
During exercise: When you exercise, you can sometimes lose up to nearly a liter an hour of your stored water! This is mainly because you tend to sweat a lot (if you’re working super hard) and because you breathe more heavily. So it is important you drink plenty of water during exercise to ensure you can maintain your energy levels, keep you working for longer and prevent dehydration.
After exercise: You will more than likely be wanting a drink after you have finished your exercise because of all the fluids you lost through sweat and heavy breathing. So drinking water after you have exercised will help to restore your normal body fluid level and helps your muscles to recover.
What will happen if I don’t drink enough water?
If you’re not drinking enough water, you’re not letting your body function efficiently. Some of the most common effects of poor water intake include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness
- Exhaustion
- Loss of coordination
- Poor recovery
So why would you want to feel like that? Our Fierce tip of the week – drink plenty of water and stay hydrated!
