What to Drink While Working Out to Stay Hydrated
Would it surprise you to learn that fully 69% of American adults are either overweight or obese? Whether you consider yourself among that number or not, the fact remains that exercise is essential to our health. It isn’t just good for weight loss; it’s beneficial to overall health, especially as we age.
Several factors determine how effective our workouts are. One of those is how we hydrate! Read on to find out more about what to drink while working out.
First Things First: Why Is Hydration So Vital?
When you work out, you sweat. And when you sweat, you need to replace that lost fluid by drinking something hydrating. Otherwise, you could become dehydrated.
Dehydration can lead to symptoms such as:
- Fatigue or weakness
- Headaches
- Sudden, inexplicable changes in mood
- Confusion and slower reaction time
- Intense thirst and dry, cracked lips
- Muscle cramps
- Hallucinations
Without proper hydration, your body loses its ability to regulate its body temperature and heart rate. As you can imagine, this could result in dizziness, fainting, and rapid heartbeat. Left untreated, severe dehydration can cause brain damage and even death.
Knowing How Much Hydration Is Enough
How do you know how much to drink while exercising? Your needs are different from others’ needs. How much fluid you lose, and should therefore replace, depends on your health, your level of fitness, the clothing you have on, and the intensity of exercise.
People with health conditions such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, or heart disease require more hydration. So do athletes, but also people who are heavier or bigger.
Is it true that you should simply listen to your body and drink when you get thirsty? Actually, no. By the time you begin to feel thirsty, you’ve already started dehydrating.
You should drink about 17-20 ounces of fluid about two hours before your workout. Then continue to hydrate through the duration of your sweat sesh and afterward.
What To Drink While Working Out
Good news: there is a range of choices regarding good workout drinks. First is plain old water, which is inexpensive, readily available, and refreshing.
Should you drink filtered water, bottled water, or tap water? Again, that depends, so take the time to learn more about your H2O options. Consider commercial or homemade flavored water if you want a little pizzazz with your fluids.
Sports drinks are another good choice, especially for serious athletes. These contain electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride. You can also consider coconut water a natural source of electrolytes.
Lastly, some people swear by chocolate milk as the perfect post-workout quaff. That sounds like pretty good motivation to finish strong!
Keep That Sports Bottle Handy!
Steer clear of beverages like soda and juice — which are low in sodium, high in carbs, and often packed with sugar. Caffeine is another no-no since it is a diuretic that will cause you to lose rather than replace fluids. Stick to water, coconut water, milk, and sports drinks for the best results.
Now that you know what to drink while working out get some more informative exercise tips by checking out the health section of our blog!
With over 20+ years of experience in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments, Diana has developed a great understanding of Marketing Strategy, Brand Development, Customer Success, Public Relations and Management. Her internal drive for developing others and external brands, has allowed her to work in some of the largest cities in the world including Milan, Paris, NY, Mexico, and the Middle East. This experience has been fundamental to Diana’s success and ability to communicate cross-culturally.
