Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Don't Let Dehydration Stop Your Running!

Running in the heat accelerates dehydration. That?s why you need to take precautions to avoid both dehydration and heat stroke. Acclimating to the heat for about two weeks is recommended for runners.

Water and electrolytes are lost through sweat and need to be replaced. Essential body salts, such as sodium, potassium, and phosphate need to be replaced. This can be done with a good electrolyte drink mix. Since you'll be more hydrated, your running performance will be improved. It's important to replace sodium during long runs.

Sodium helps the body to retain fluid and potassium is essential for muscle and nerve function. The body needs a balance of these to function properly. If you have too much or too little sodium it could seriously affect your performance. You could cause problems with your nervous system if you have too much or too little potassium.

An electrolyte drink, such as Vitalyte, that is balanced will improve a runner's performance. Drinking enough water and taking in enough sodium will help give runners the edge they need to succeed.

No comments:

Post a Comment