What, how and how much to drink to exercise
In the last two posts I have explained the importance of keeping muscle fuel (glycogen) tanks full for sports performance. In this new chapter I will discuss the importance of the water reserves of our body for exercise and, above all, maintaining them throughout all physical activity.We must bear in mind that we are 60% water and, therefore, for our body to function properly it is essential to maintain it with the corresponding proportion of water. Otherwise, our vital functions may start to fail.
Athletes are especially sensitive to water loss. With physical exercise, body temperature increases and the body needs to cool down, which increases the secretion of sweat and, consequently, body water is lost. If nothing is done to compensate for this loss, the body will gradually dehydrate as the exercise progresses. The truth is that when an athlete competes in a dehydrated state he is at a disadvantage compared to another who is well hydrated. Yields less.
SLOWER AND CLOSER
It is enough that a person who is exercising suffers a dehydration of only 2% of the body weight for their performance to be affected. In other words, if a person weighs 75 kilos, it is enough to lose 1.4 kilos (= 1.4 liters of body fluid) to start feeling more tired, slow and clumsy, also increasing the risk of injury. In addition to affecting motor functions, the effects of dehydration also affect mental activity, negatively influencing cognitive performance: concentration status, decision making, visual acuity ... An aspect that can lead to precision errors and mistakes when deciding where or to whom to pass a ball; whether to “pass shot” or cross the ball; or stumble more than you should while doing a trail ...
And contrary to what seems, it is not so difficult to reach a state of dehydration of 2%. It is calculated that an athlete loses between 1 and 2.5 liters of sweat for each hour of intense exercise, which means losing between 1 and 2.5 kilos of weight. At Real Madrid they have calculated that the loss of liquids by sweat of their players during training is an average of 2 liters per player.
If the exercise is carried out, in addition, in serious conditions of heat and / or humidity, the losses of body fluid increase, which puts the health and even the life of the athlete at serious risk if no measures are taken in this regard. We all have in mind episodes of athletes reaching the finish line exhausted, dizzy and losing consciousness. The best known case is that of the Swiss Gaby Andersen in the Los Angeles 84 Olympic marathon, who, due to dehydration, staggered, disoriented and totally exhausted the last leg of the race.
WATER OR SPORTS DRINK?
The first dilemma that arises when hydrating for exercise is knowing whether it is more convenient to drink water or is it preferable to resort to an isotonic sports drink (osmolarity between 270 and 330). The answer is: it depends. It depends on the moment, the type of effort, intensity and the weather.
Before exercise or pre-hydration:
The most recommended is to drink water. If a balanced diet is followed, the water together with the nutrients we ingest in the meals allow us to obtain a sufficient quantity of electrolytes. In the event that the exercise is going to be very long and carried out in hot / humid conditions, it is beneficial to add a little more salt to the food or to take a salty snack (cookies, almonds ...) since its sodium content helps to retain liquids. You can also choose to drink water with salts.
During exercise
In sessions of up to 60 minutes in duration and / or low intensity (Pilates, Yoga, low impact gym sessions ...) it is enough to drink only water. In sessions that last more than 60 minutes or somewhat shorter (45 ’) but are very intense, you can use an isotonic sports drink that contains 6-8 gr / 100 ml of carbohydrates and electrolytes, including sodium. The contribution of carbohydrates allows to replace muscle glycogen.
Isotonic sports drinks with carbohydrates of 6-8 gr / 100 ml are very beneficial during the rest times of collective sports games (soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, ...) since they help to replenish muscle glycogen and face in better condition the second part. It is also useful to take them during, for example, a tennis match especially if it is prolonged.
Isotonic sports drinks that are marketed for this purpose usually have practically all of these carbohydrate concentrations, although some remain somewhat shorter and do not reach 6%. To know for sure, just look at the Nutritional Information for 100 ml of the drink and see the specified grams of carbohydrates or% of total sugars.
After exercise or re-hydration
In short and / or light sessions, water is sufficient. If the exercise has been intense and / or long-lasting, it is a good option to resort to an isotonic sports drink with minerals (sodium and potassium) and also carbohydrates in order to replace muscle glycogen. There is also the option to drink only water and accompany it with a Repairing Snack.
In the case of undergoing a weight loss process, it is not a good remedy to use a carbohydrate drink because of its caloric intake, but if you have sweated a lot during the session, it is a good measure to drink water with mineral salts .
In order to achieve rapid rehydration, it is also useful to have a salty snack (almonds, chips, cookies ...). The fact of recommending sports drinks is also due to the fact that, since they are more palatable than tasteless water, they are a greater motivation for athletes - especially if they are children or young adolescents - hydrate themselves adequately when conditions demand it.
HYDRATION GUIDELINES
Before exercise or pre-hydration:
During the 4 hours before the effort, it is recommended to drink in the order of 5-7 ml / kg (between 350 to 650 ml = 2 to 3 glasses of water). This intake, which should not be done suddenly but in a distributed manner, can also be done during the two hours before starting to train, in the order of 3-5 ml / kg (1 to 2 glasses of water).
During exercise:
If it lasts more than 60 minutes, it is recommended to drink between 150 ml to 200 ml (one glass) every 20 minutes. But if the conditions of heat and humidity are severe, in a long-term test, the needs can increase to 400 ml. The goal is to compensate for sweat losses and finish the exercise with the least possible loss of body fluid. In the rest periods of soccer, basketball, handball, and rugby matches, among others, it is recommended to drink 400 to 500 ml.
After exercise or re-hydration:
It is advisable to drink a volume of liquid equal to 1.2 or 1.5 times the weight lost during exercise. That is, if the weight lost is 1 kg, it is advisable to drink 1.5 liters of water or sports drink. Loss of body fluid is identified by weighing before and after exertion.
DO NOT DRINK IN EXCESS
As in everything, exceeding in hydration is also not convenient due to the risk of suffering hyponatremia, a disorder that occurs when blood sodium concentrations drop abnormally for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It manifests with dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness and in severe situations can cause seizures and even coma.
The hyponatremia that occurs in athletes is usually due to drinking more fluid than was lost in sweat, although it can also occur in athletes already dehydrated, as a result of large sodium losses due to sweat.
Among those who are at higher risk of suffering are the so-called "Salty Sweaters", people with high rates of sweating and / or subjected to high sodium losses. This is why it is important that beverages contain sodium.
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