Why Hydration Is Important For Athletes

Training hard and smart is key but improvements in your body happen while you rest. You will never make athletic gains if you don’t allow your body to recover.

Staying hydrated is one of the important recovery methods that can shorten your recovery time and amplify your results. Here are few hydration tips:

You should be constantly drinking water throughout the day. Dehydration can decrease stamina, reduce recovery, and increase the likelihood of cramps, pulls, & strains.

The amount of fluid depends on each individual’s needs and the rules and regulations of the sport, but a good rule of thumb is the Rule of 8: eight times throughout the day, drink a big glass of water.

Always start exercise hydrated to lower the risk of becoming dehydrated during exercise. As dehydration increases, there is a reduction in physical and mental performance. Impaired skill level can also occur, along with mental fatigue that can impact concentration and decision making.

You will continue to lose fluids through sweating after you finish exercising, so plan to replace this fluid that you’ve lost during the session over the 4-6 hours after you stop exercising.

As there are many drink options available, it’s important to determine which fluid is best for you. Plain water can be an effective drink for fluid replacement, especially in low intensity and short duration sports. A sports drink can be useful during some activities, especially high intensity or endurance sports, as it contains both carbohydrates for fuel and flavour and electrolytes (sodium) to help the body ‘hold on to’ fluid more effectively as well as stimulate thirst.