Water and Physical
Performance
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.