Water and Physical Performance

by Dr. Vera Stevens by permission from www.abundantlifehealth.com

Water is your body’s most important nutrient, yet its importance is often overlooked or forgotten. It’s recommended that you drink at least seven to eight glasses per day. However, if you’re extremely active and exercise regularly, you should increase your intake of water to prevent possible dehydration.

DEHYDRATION: Occurs if you fail to consume enough water and can result in fatigue and shifting body temperatures as well as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Keeping the body hydrated is one of the most important aspects of optimum physical performance. As water loss increases, specifically due to sweating, dehydration occurs and physical performance diminishes rapidly.

For most athletes, a three percent water weight loss impairs performance; although highly conditioned and acclimated athletes may be able to tolerate a four to five percent loss. Once significant dehydration occurs, such as three percent water loss from the body, it will take at lease 24 hours to restore water balance. Thirst is a poor indicator of dehydration. Hydrating the body before, during, and after a workout is the best approach to reduce or prevents dehydration.

NOTE: Remember, in order to prevent any health issues, Nutrients and Nutrition must be kept at a balance(click here).