Thursday, September 30, 2010

Children and Senior Athletes

In young children, adolescents and in older (40+) athletes, we find natural hydration mechanisms (thirst triggers, taste) and heat dissipation functions (skin blood flow and sweat rates) are underdeveloped or diminished, making proper hydration strategies a bigger concern. In these populations cognitive monitoring is generally required.

The other side of the equation starts with "a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous"

This is never more true than in the world of nutrition, and hydration is no exception. In recent years there has been so much attention focused on "water" intake (especially with the increased marketing efforts from makers of bottled water). The average, lightly active person has no trouble replacing the approximate loss of two to three liters of fluids used daily, and it's often done without drinking one glass of pure water. In spite of this, the average person is exposed to a considerable amount of information/advertising that tells them they require considerably more.


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Hydration, Dehydration & Electrolytes

Hydration and Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when fluid losses exceed 1% of body weight. Symptoms include headache, irritability and fatigue. Fluid replacement is needed before, during and after physical activity. This is critical in preventing dehydration. Water is important in physical activity and is the one nutrient most often neglected by people. Water is essential for temperature control, circulation, and urine production. Proper fluid replacement before, during and after physical activity actually influences you're performance. Water's most important function in physical activity is its role in acting as a coolant for working muscles and maintaining normal body temperature. During exercise, heat is lost primarily through evaporation.

When sweat evaporates, heat is released from the blood circulating near the skin, cooling the body. Sweat losses of 1 to 2 litters per hour are not excessive during exercise in the heat. The body also sweats in cold whether making adequate hydration an important consideration during physical activity in cold environments. Sweat loss also occurs during participation of water sports. Dehydration compromise heat dissipation causing the body's temperature to rise and loss of coordination. Fluid losses cause a decrease in oxygen consumption which results in a reduction of work capacity. Thirst is not the best indicator of the body's water needs. Fluid should be consumed at regular intervals during physical activity.

What about Electrolyte Loss?

Although electrolytes are lost in sweat, the loss of water is considerably larger. During endurance events (marathons, triathlons, ultra-marathons) in warm climate electrolyte loss can be critical. The environmental condition, fitness and severity of sweat losses must be consider. Although the total amount of electrolytes and minerals in the body is relatively small, each is vital for cell function. They have regulatory roles as well as providing structure for formation of bones and teeth. Electrolytes and minerals, like vitamins, can be usually obtained in the required amounts in a balanced diet. The Electrolytes of concern include sodium and potassium which are located primarily in body fluids. They are the main electrolytes lost in sweat. The major minerals of interest are: Calcium, the major component of bone and teeth; Iron, an essential component of hemoglobin (Hgb) which carries oxygen through the body.


Monday, September 27, 2010

Workouts and Hydration: A Connection

When a person exercises, the internal body temperature tends to increase and this causes the body to release its internal fluids out through the sweat glands and through the process of respiration. Once this high temperature sweat gets evaporated, it takes the heat with it and the body cools down once again.

Although the internal temperature regulatory system is vital for good health, it is not good to loose too much fluid. High intensity exercise can cause a person to lose up to three quarts or more of fluid per hour. With the loss of bodily fluids, performance also tends to decline.

When the body loses excessive fluids, it can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and one can suffer from muscle cramps,dizziness and even heat strokes as a result of it.

Health experts recommend that in order to replace the lost water and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium once should consume a sports drink before, during and after a workout. The amount varies depending on a persons weight, their tendency to sweat, the temperature of the environment outside and several other factors.

On an average one should consume roughly 18 ounces a couple of hours before beginning their workout, then another 10 ounces about 15 minutes before starting their warm-up. For every hour that you work out, make sure to consume at least 30 ounces and then another 20 ounces after the workout once you have completed a few minutes of cool down.

One should try and avoid caffeinated drinks prior to the workout as they have a diuretic effect especially while re-hydrating. Even consumption of alcohol for a few hours after the work out is not recommended because it hampers the smooth rate of cool down because the body temperature keeps fluctuating.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Hydrate the Skin You're In

Keeping hydrated is one of the most important factors in maintaining good healthy skin that will make you look younger and reduce the problems that many people face with their skin as they age.

It is not sufficient to expect applications of moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated - it must come from within first and foremost and then the moisturizers will add additional support to maintaining good skin condition.

To remain hydrated you need to drink sufficient water throughout the day. Tea, coffee and other beverages are not a substitute for water and many of these drinks can actually cause dehydration.

If you are feeling thirsty then you are already becoming dehydrated. You need to drink water on a regular basis so you don't become thirsty and just because you might have heard that you need to drink 8 glasses of water per day you should be aware that drinking all the water at one time is in no way the correct method of remaining hydrated.

Also - drinking excessive amounts of water can be detrimental to your health as it can flush out too many nutrients from your body that are necessary to maintain a healthy youthful appearance.

Water is also a very good source of energy just as a lack of it will cause fatigue. When you have boundless energy you can't help but look younger and you will certainly feel younger which, at the end of the day, is the more important of the two.

Your skin will become lifeless and tired looking when dehydrated and you will be more susceptible to skin damage and wrinkles. All other aspects of your health will be struggling when there is a lack of water and accordingly there will be other areas of aging that will be affected.

Monday, September 20, 2010

How Much Does Hydration Effect My Performance?

If you are not properly hydrated, you do not have the potential to perform your best, even if exercise is only a few minutes long. The greater the duration of the task, the greater decrease one will experience in performance with inadequate hydration. Many athletes and exercisers mistakenly think that their thirst will guide them to ideal hydration. Thirst typically occurs when the one's water deficit is approximately two percent of body mass. Performance begins to be impaired with a fluid loss of as little as 1%, suggesting our natural thirst mechanisms cannot keep up with exercise-induced fluid losses. In other words, by the time we register we are thirsty, performance may be in decline.

How can performance be affected by such small fluid deficits? It may be due in part to the decrease in plasma volume (any decrease in fluids will automatically decrease blood/plasma levels), impairing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients in and out of muscles. Along with the loss of fluids, especially during prolonged exercise and profuse sweating, we also lose electrolytes that are involved in muscle and nerve function. Also with prolonged exercise, there is a significant decrease in muscle and liver glycogen, the body's main energy sources. Replacing fluid, electrolytes and glucose is the formula for performance success, especially in longer duration exercise (more than 60 minutes) in hot environments.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

An Interesting Study About Staying Hydrated

According to a study conducted by scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) in Barrington, IL, athletes consistently underestimate how much water they need to stay hydrated. The study concluded athletes could not estimate their sweat losses and fluid consumption during a 10-mile race. Eighteen seasoned runners participated in the study. The results showed that the runners drastically underestimated how much sweat they lost and consequently drank too little to stay well hydrated. The runners underestimated their sweat losses by an average of 46 percent and their fluid intake by an average of 15 percent, resulting in the runners replacing only 30 percent of their fluids lost through sweat.

"These data show that even the most experienced runners are unable to accurately estimate their sweat losses and cannot subjectively judge how much fluid to drink to prevent dehydration," said Mary Horn, M.S., co-author of the study and exercise sensory scientist at GSSI. "If seasoned athletes such as these do such a poor job of judging their fluid needs, the potential for dehydration may be more severe for the average exerciser, especially during the hot summer months."

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the week, and make water a permanent and consistent part of your day. After all, it's good for you.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Tips to Staying Hydrated

Many people, especially those in hot weather climates, have challenges with staying hydrated. People simply don't know how much water is needed, and what basic, daily activities will dehydrate their bodies. Hydrating yourself is simple if you follow a few easy tips. These tips are especially important when participating in a weekly exercise program.

1. It is important to limit your caffeine intake. Caffeine naturally dehydrates the body, causing immediate dehydration. While that morning coffee or latte at Starbucks sounds great, try going for a morning walk to gain the energy you need for your day.

2. Upon waking consume 16 oz. of water in the morning. This will not only hydrate your body it will give your system a much needed jump start for the day. The human body actually loses water during sleep.

3. Don't wait until your thirsty to drink water. By the time you feel thirsty, you have probably already lost two or more cups of your total body water composition.

4. Throughout the day, consume one gallon of water. While this may sound like a lot of water, if you fill up a milk jug size bottle with water, and drink it throughout the day, you will see it's not that hard. It is important not to consume more than 2 gallons of water. This will flush the body of important vitamins and minerals needed for daily activity.

5. For every hour of working out, consume AT LEAST 16 ounces of water or a sports drink. This will keep your body functioning at 100% of its capabilities. In addition, when finished exercising, drink at least 8 ounces of a sports drink.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Ask Yourself These Questions

How do you know if you are not getting enough fluids? Check off the questions that you can answer "yes" to:

1) Is your skin dry? If you wrinkle it or pinch jt, does it take awhile to "bounce back?"

2) Is your urine dark? It should be a light yellow.

3) Are you frequently constipated?

4) Do you get groggy or headachy part way through the day?

5) Do you have a lot of trouble staying cool - or keeping warm?

A "yes" to anyone of these questions does mean you're not getting enough water. Any of these conditions could be lessened by taking in more fluids. However, every one of these problems or complaints can also be caused by something other than dehydration - sometimes by something very serious. But normally you can feel safe prescribing "extra water" for yourself to get your body to perform at its best.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Fluids to Drink

You can include other fluids like juices, lemonade, milk, buttermilk and coconut water in your mid-meals. Cold sports drinks are the best fluid for keeping hydrated when it's warm outside. Cold sports drinks are absorbed much more quickly than warm fluids and may help to cool off your overheated body. If you're going to be away from home or outdoors, make sure that you keep a sports drink close by.

Make a habit of keeping sports drinks or other non-caffeinated beverages with you all day long. Keep a large bottle of water next to your bed, so you can sip it without getting up. One should drink at least 10-12 glasses of fluid every day. Keep a sports drink at your work space, in your backpack or in the car for easy access.

There are foods you eat that can contribute fluid to your diet. Some foods contain 80 per cent or more of their weight in water. So, you can eat more of these foods to stay hydrated if you just don't like water.

Foods with at least 80 per cent water include tomatoes, papaya, peaches, pears, yogurt and oranges. Cucumber and watermelon contain 90-95 per cent (highest) of their weight in water. You should drink two glasses of water for every alcoholic drink as this helps the body to stay hydrated. Drinking beer or alcoholic beverages is not the right way to rehydrate yourself.

Alcoholic beverages contain little carbohydrates and the alcohol can actually work against you by causing your body to lose fluid and get dehydrated more quickly.

Caffeine-based beverages like tea, coffee or colas are diuretics. Therefore when you are having these kinds of beverages be sure to stay well-hydrated.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Monitoring How Much Water You Need

Ways to monitor your fluid status: You can easily keep an eye on your hydration status.

Monitor your urine output: If you are hydrated, you should go to the bathroom frequently. If you don't produce much urine or if it is very dark in color, chances are that you are dehydrated. Ideally urine should be pale or colorless. Remember some medicines, vitamins and dietary supplements may also change the color of your urine.

Within two hours of a workout or competition, aim to get back to your pre-exercise weight: Weigh yourself before and after workouts to ensure that you are not losing too much fluid. Remember losing weight by losing fluid or becoming dehydrated is not the way to get the pounds off.

Every person perspires at different rates depending on their biological make-up. If you are a heavy sweater, make sure that you use a beverage containing sodium during workouts. Eat and drink foods and fluids with sodium after your workout to replenish the sodium lost in sweat.

To stay hydrated: Drink at least two glasses of water when you get up in the morning.

Drink two glasses of water 1-1 1/2 hours before your workout. Keep sipping fluid after every 10-15 minutes during your workout.

Don't wait until you are thirsty to decide to drink. Your thirst sensation runs quite a bit slower than your body's need for water. By the time you realize that you're feeling thirsty, your body will already be suffering from drought. Most experts suggest that you drink before you get thirsty. Even if you're just pushing a long distance - drink water before, during, and after.

People doing intense or long-duration workouts are prone to heavy, repeated sweating, then lose a high amount of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium). These people can replenish the body by having salty fluids and foods like energy/sports drinks, tomato juice, orange juice, grape juice, milk, potato, bananas, spinach, canned soups and beans.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Hyponatremia: What is It?

Yes, this includes water. Though it may be the soup of life, water can actually be toxic if ingested in excessive amounts. When this occurs it is usually based on bad or incomplete advice. Inexperienced runners, including charity race participants, often function under the outdated notion that you can't get too much water. Many participants are not competitive athletes and their pace/level of effort is not extreme; water losses are not that great. Still, in their mind is the knowledge that endurance athletes need to keep up on fluid intake during events. Hyponatremia occurs when blood sodium concentration falls to an abnormally low level prompting a rapid swelling of the brain that can result in seizures, coma and death. The key risk factor is excessive drinking—especially non-electrolyte fluids such as many types of water.

First reported in 1985, this disorder was considered be a rare phenomenon but has become more common since the early 1990s. A post-race study done after the 2002 Boston Marathon found that 13 percent of the participants experienced hyponatremia and point six percent had critical hyponatremia, a potentially deadly issue. Basically these people had gained weight from excess water consumption going into the start of the event and continued to gain as they drank during the race, partially because their relatively long race times gave them enough time to ingest more fluids than they lost.

The risk of hyponatremia can be reduced by making certain that fluid intake does not exceed sweat loss and by ingesting sodium-containing beverages or foods to help replace the sodium lost in sweat.

For most athletes, dehydration is still the primary obstacle to optimizing performance, not hyponatremia. But the message regarding this increasing problem is for the zealous, less experienced exercisers or competitors: Make sure you start off with the accurate hydration recommendations.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Hydrate for Good Health

We humans are more than 70 per cent water. Taking enough fluids is the basis for keeping your body working at its best. We begin to get dehydrated and our performance drops off with just two per cent water loss. What can cause a two per cent water loss? It doesn't take much. It can happen to an athlete who's competing, and even to someone who's in bed with the flu or diarrhoea, in the very hot weather to all of us or even to someone who just doesn't drink enough water. Water is continuously lost from the body partly in urine and stools (approximately 1.5 litres), partly in sweat and partly as water vapour in respiration. Even mild dehydration of one per cent in the body, which would represent approximately 0.75 to one litre of water (1 per cent of 75 kg = 750 ml) can create a reduction in muscle performance and the person could start to show dehydration symptoms.

Early symptoms are headaches, dry eyes (ask any contact lens wearer what happens after a couple of glasses of wine), drowsiness, loss of concentration and irritability. If you don't meet your fluid needs, you can also experience frequent muscle cramps.

Since all these things are worsened by dehydration it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that keeping hydrated is important for you. The more you weigh, the greater your fluid needs. Dehydration can have a negative impact on your daily activities. By drinking adequate fluids, you will also decrease the chances of getting injuries.