A friendly reminder to drink more water throughout the day...
A Healthy Body is a Hydrated Body
Our bodies are made up of approximately 60% water, and every system and function is affected by hydration, including transporting nutrients to the cells, flushing out wastes, hydrating joints, maintaining body temperature and blood pressure.
Thus drinking water throughout the day, every day, should be your priority.
How much water should we be drinking?
The general consensus is women should drink 9-11 cups a day (about 2 liters) and men about 13-15 cups (about 3 liters); kids and teens should drink about 6-8 cups of water a day. This of course varies by person, activity level, health conditions, and time of year.
Before exercise: If you are drinking water throughout the day, you should be well hydrated - it is suggested to drink 16-20 ounces of water in the hour before exercise.
But don’t chug water immediately before heading out the door, as it can make you feel too full (and sloshy if you’re running).
During exercise, especially on these hot and humid days, it's recommended to drink 7-10 ounces of water for every 10-20 minutes of exercise.
Should you add electrolytes to your water?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, electrolytes are minerals found in your blood that help regulate and control the balance of fluids in the body. These minerals play a role in regulating blood pressure, muscle contraction and keep your system functioning properly.
The 3 main electrolytes are: sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
You can lose these minerals through sweat and intense exercise, leading to you feeling lousy, having muscle cramps or spasms, and/or decreased fitness performance.
It's suggested that if you are exercising for less than an hour and are sufficiently hydrated overall, plain water will do. But if you are exercising for over 75 minutes (or it's hot out or you are a heavy sweater) then adding electrolytes to your water during or after exercise is a good idea.
Not all electrolyte drinks or powders are created equal, read the ingredients label to make sure there isn't a bunch of unnecessary sugars or other ingredients added.
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