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The Facts on Water and Exercise

2010-01-29 08:16:52

During physical activity the body loses water primarily through sweat, even in

cold weather or in water. The body has several mechanisms to protect itself

from the negative effects of dehydration, but thirst does not occur until the

person is already dehydrated!

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) points out that as we get older,

drinking enough water is especially important because with age our body is less

able to regulate our temperature, putting us at increased risk of heat-related

illness. Age also affects our ability to stay hydrated during exercise and our

ability to recognize when we need more water.

A key to successful workouts is keeping well hydrated before, during and after

exercise. The length of your workouts, heat, humidity and the amount you sweat

are all major considerations for keeping your body in proper fluid balance.

Hydration Tips

Water vs. Sport Drinks

For exercise lasting under 45 minutes, water is your best choice. For the

recreational athlete who may exercise 30-40 minutes per session, water is

sufficient for hydration:

Research suggests that for workouts consisting of at least 45 minutes of

continuous exercise or high-intensity workouts of any duration running,

aerobics, biking and intense weight training a sports drink may be beneficial

in delaying muscle fatigue by providing your body with additional energy:

carbohydrates and electrolytes

and enhances performance by fueling the muscles

absorbed more quickly and helps to retain fluids consumed after prolonged

intense exercise

Over-hydration

Drinking too much water can cause problems such as water intoxication and,

although this is not something most of us have to worry about, it does happen

among many exercisers and should be something to be aware of. As the water

content of the blood increases, the salt content is diluted; consequently, the

amount of salt available to body tissues decreases, which can lead to problems

with brain, heart and muscle function.

Symptoms include:

These symptoms can also be attributed to dehydration, so it is important to

know your body and know how much you are drinking.

Remember that you can get your daily water requirements from sources other than

pure water. Your cup of tea counts! Water is the main ingredient in all drinks

carbonated drinks, fruit juices and even coffee. All these contribute to your

daily fluid intake. Fruit and vegetables also have high water content, so

proper nutrition is just as important.

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Posted: 2010077@394.45

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Eating for Exercise

By Timothy M. Brewi, B.A., D.T.R.

July/August 2002

1. Food Before Exercise

performance suffers with as little as 2 percent loss of body weight due to

dehydration. Drink at least 2 cups of water about 2 hours before exercise.

Drink another 2 cups of water within 20 minutes of exercise.

breakfast). Note that performing aerobic exercise on an empty stomach or when

you're hungry does not increase the amount of fat you burn; rather, it may

cause protein to be sacrificed as fuel.

diet all through the day! (For more information on healthy food choices, click

here.)

from muscles and into the gastrointestinal tract during digestion. The ideal

time for fitness activities is about ...

Advertisement

o 1/2 hour after a light snack.

o 1 hour after a light meal, heavy snack, or meal replacement drink.

o 2 hours after a regular meal.

o 3 hours after a Thanksgiving-type feast.

does not provide a quick burst of energy, but may cause a rise in insulin

followed by a drop in blood sugar resulting in fatigue.

2. Food During Exercise

water during exercise does not cause upset stomach or cramps; whereas

restricting water during exercise may cause severe dehydration and limit

performance. Be aware that exercise blunts the sense of thirst. "If you wait

until you notice your thirst, you're already becoming dehydrated." So whether

you feel thirsty or not, drink 1/2 cup of water every 10-15 minutes. Ideally,

exercisers should consume adequate fluids during activity so that body weight

remains relatively unchanged before and after exercise.

excess water loss through perspiration. Salt tablets will aggravate dehydration

by drawing fluids into the stomach. Prevent muscle cramps during exercise by

keeping well hydrated.

the most appropriate fluid to drink is cool water. The typical American diet

provides ample electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium) to

replace what is lost by sweat. However, persons who exercise strenuously for

more than an hour or exercise in extreme environmental conditions (neither of

which is recommended!) may require a sports beverage containing carbohydrates

and electrolytes.

muscles and into the gastrointestinal tract for digestion.

3. Food After Exercise

during exercise, weigh yourself immediately before and after exercise. The

difference is water loss. Ideally, exercisers should consume adequate fluids

during activity so that body weight remains relatively unchanged before and

after exercise.

but to losing water. Consume 2 cups of water for every pound of body weight

lost during exercise.

excess water loss through perspiration. Salt tablets will aggravate dehydration

by drawing fluids into the stomach. Prevent muscle cramps after exercise

(especially the night after exercise) by keeping well hydrated.

post-exercise snack is light and nutritious, containing mainly carbohydrates

and protein in a ratio of about 2:1. Examples:

o 1 cup of fruit juice with protein powder.

o 1 cup of 1 percent milk, fat-free ice cream, or nonfat yogurt.

o 1 apple with 1 inch cube of low-fat cheese.

o 2 slices of whole wheat bread with 2 thin slices of turkey, optional mustard.

well-balanced diet all through the day!

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Posted: 2010077@396.51

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Proper Hydration for Exercise - Water or

What and when athletes drink depends upon exercise duration and intensity

By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com Guide

Updated: June 29, 2009

Water is the most essential ingredient to a healthy life. Water has many

important functions in the body including:

Importance of Water During Exercise

Proper hydration is especially important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake

for athletes is essential to comfort, performance and safety. The longer and

more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right kind

of fluids.

Dehydration

Athletes need to stay hydrated for optimal performance. Studies have found that

a loss of two or more percent of one's body weight due to sweating is linked to

a drop in blood volume. When this occurs, the heart works harder to move blood

through the bloodstream. This can also cause muscle cramps, dizziness and

fatigue and even heat illness including:

Causes of Dehydration

Hyponatremia - Water Intoxication

Although rare, recreational exercisers are also at risk of drinking too much

water and suffering from hyponatremia or water intoxication. Clearly, drinking

the right amount of the right fluids is critical for performance and safety

while exercising.

Adequate Fluid Intake for for Athletes

Because there is wide variability in sweat rates, losses and hydration levels

of individuals, it is nearly impossible to provide specific recommendations or

guidelines about the type or amount of fluids athletes should consume.

Finding the right amount of fluid to drink depends upon a variety of individual

factors including the length and intensity of exercise and other individual

differences. There are, however, two simple methods of estimating adequate

hydration:

1. Monitoring urine volume output and color. A large amount of light colored,

diluted urine probably means you are hydrated; dark colored, concentrated urine

probably means you are dehydrated.

2. Weighing yourself before and after exercise. Any weight lost is likely from

fluid, so try to drink enough to replenish those losses. Any weight gain could

mean you are drinking more than you need.

Things that Affect Fluid Loss in Athletes

therefore increases you fluid needs.

sweating and exercise in the cold can impair you ability to recognize fluid

losses and increase fluid lost through respiration. In both cases it is

important to hydrate.

greater risk for dehydration. Again, weigh yourself before and after exercise

to judge sweat loss.

means you need to drink more and more frequently to avoid dehydration.

To find the correct balance of fluids for exercise, the American College Of

Sports Medicine suggests that "individuals should develop customized fluid

replacement programs that prevent excessive (greater than 2 percent body weight

reductions from baseline body weight) dehydration. The routine measurement of

pre- and post-exercise body weights is useful for determining sweat rates and

customized fluid replacement programs. Consumption of beverages containing

electrolytes and carbohydrates can help sustain fluid-electrolyte balance and

exercise performance."

According to the Institute of Medicine the need for carbohydrate and

electrolytes replacement during exercise depends on exercise intensity,

duration, weather and individual differences in sweat rates. [They write,

"fluid replacement beverages might contain ~20 30 meqILj1 sodium (chloride as

the anion), ~2 5 meqILj1 potassium and ~5 10% carbohydrate."] Sodium and

potassium are to help replace sweat electrolyte losses, and sodium also helps

to stimulate thirst. Carbohydrate provides energy for exercise over 60-90

minutes. This can also be provided through energy gels, bars, and other foods.

What about Sports Drinks?

Sports drinks can be helpful to athletes who are exercising at a high intensity

for 60 minutes or more. Fluids supplying 60 to 100 calories per 8 ounces helps

to supply the needed calories required for continuous performance. It's really

not necessary to replace losses of sodium, potassium and other electrolytes

during exercise since you're unlikely to deplete your body's stores of these

minerals during normal training. If, however, you find yourself exercising in

extreme conditions over 3 or 5 hours (a marathon, Ironman or ultramarathon, for

example) you may likely want to add a complex sports drink with electrolytes.

General Guidelines for Fluid Needs During Exercise

While specific fluid recommendations aren't possible due to individual

variability, most athletes can use the following guidelines as a starting

point, and modify their fluid needs accordingly.

Hydration Before Exercise

Hydration During Exercise

(with no more than 8 percent carbohydrate) every 15 - 30 minutes.

Hydration After Exercise

exercise to replenish glycogen stores.

Source:

Consensus Statement of the 1st International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia

Consensus Development Conference, Cape Town, South Africa 2005. Clinical

Journal of Sport Medicine. 15(4):208-213, July 2005.

Exercise and Fluid Replacement, ACSM Position Stand, American College Of Sports

Medicine, Medicine and Science In Sports & Exercise, 2007.

Institute of Medicine. Water. In: Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Sodium,

Cholride, Potassium and Sulfate, Washington, D.C: National Academy Press, pp.

73 185, 2005.