SUMMER SCIENCE FRIDAY FOR ATHLETES: WATER BENEFITS, BEYOND RE-HYDRATION WEIGHT LOSS, & TOXIN ELIMINATION

Water's edge. Taken by PKSenagore May 2019. All rights reserved.

DRINK MORE WATER. HYDRATION AND RE-HYDRATION ADVICE IS COMMONLY GIVEN TO ATHLETES to improve sport performance and recover after training and competition.
 
Fitness-minded individuals exercising to control weight are counseled that increasing water intake may help with satiety and that thirst can be mistaken for hunger. It seems that reaching for a glass of water before grabbing food might prevent consumption of calories we don’t need at the moment.
 
Taking in sufficient water importantly helps the body eliminate waste products and certain toxins through the kidneys, accumulated from everyday activities and extra bouts of physical exertion. 
 
A slideshow article from WebMD, “What happens when you drink enough water?” briefly reviews these benefits through 12 slides.   Surprisingly, even though it is not aimed at athletes, much of the information seems to explain how drinking an adequate amount of water will assist in improving physical exercise performance.
 
In the WebMD.com slideshow, the advantages of being well-hydrated that especially pertain to athletes are:

• “Your joints work better” (2);
• “You sweat” (3),
• “You avoid dehydration” (4),
• “You may gain an athletic edge” (7), and
• “Your heart works better” (9). 

 
The other six reasons provided in the piece also apply to athletes as well, but not so directly. For example, slide 1 informs, “You stay regular”.  There are few things worse that occur during long training sessions than the urgent need to find a restroom for a “number 2” break.  Being regular has its advantages in training and in races! Also, there’s nothing invigorating about the feeling of bowel sluggishness, so getting things cleared on a dependable schedule can make for panic free sessions.
 
The slideshow is a quick reminder of why cool drinks of plain water this summer, or that replace electrolytes as needed, can boost your enjoyment of exercise.  At the end of the article there is advice on how much water is recommended, and a caution that too much can be unhealthy, possibly dangerous, too.
 
The number 2 slide was what captured my attention.  If water is good for knees, I’m drinking it.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-drink-enough-water?
 
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/water-for-weight-loss-diet#1
 
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water#3