Water accounts for about 60% of your body mass and is the most significant element in your body. It is active in everything, from internal temperature control to protecting delicate tissues and padding joints. Every cell, tissue, and organ rely on proper hydration to function properly.
Dehydration occurs when the body does not have enough water to work properly, and it can cause exhaustion, irritability and confusion.
Hydration is determined not only by the quantity of water you consume, but also by the amount of water you expel from your body through breathing, sweat and urination.
You sweat while you work out and sweating depletes the body of water. In reality, sweating will cause you to lose 6% to 10% of your body weight during strenuous athletic events. That is why it is important to prioritize hydration before, throughout, and after exercise. Not only does hydration boost results, but it also aids in the achievement of physical fitness goals and the maintenance of a healthy weight. Much more incentive to carry your water bottle to work and drink away!
Also Read: Best Infused Water Recipes to Relish Through The Summer Days
But, what else do you drink? Is water sufficient to hydrate your body, or do energy drinks like Gatorade provide more benefit? Let’s take a look at how hydration functions and see what you’ll be drinking for yourself.
Sports Drinks vs Water:
Because of the flavour and added electrolytes, many people would prefer sports drinks to water during and after exercise. However, several sports drinks contain extra ingredients and additives, making them a less enticing option for those looking to burn calories. But is that excuse enough to forget about them?
Let’s take a look at a few of those extra ingredients:
Electrolytes:
Minerals with an electric charge, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium, aid in the maintenance of your body’s ionic balance. When you exercise, you lose electrolytes, and sports drinks aim to help offset what you lose during exercise.
Carbs:
Sugars account for the majority of the carbs in sports drinks. Carbohydrates are one of the body’s sources of energy, and sports drinks are intended to refuel you after a strenuous workout.
Amino Acids:
Amino acids are the basic blocks of protein, and it is thought that drinking them after a strenuous workout helps our bodies heal quicker and healthier.
Also Read: The Benefits of Keto Diet for Women’s Health
As you can see, some of the extra ingredients in sports drinks have hydration advantages that water alone cannot provide and then there are also natural sports drinks with electrolytes like coconut water. The coconut water benefits are the same as sports drinks but without the added sugars.
Staying hydrated is important for overall health and fitness. You obviously cannot perform well or maintain a healthy overall health if you do not drink enough water.
Though there are numerous ways to stay hydrated, drinking regular water is the best option for the majority of people—unless you are an elite athlete or engage in high-intensity workouts.
If you’re sick of simple H20, coconut juice, milk, fruits, and veggies are all delicious alternatives.