Thursday, August 14, 2025

Hydration - Everybody Is Talking About It! What Is It? How to Get It Done!

 

Hydration of Your Body Is Like A Car's Battery...

If you have started a car on a cold morning - it turns over slowly, struggles to start, and sometimes stops. Your body is like a car's battery. It contains water and electrolyte.

Electrolytes are the mineral salts that carry electrical signals through your muscles, heart, and nerves such as:

  • Sodium – regulates fluid balance and nerves
  • Potassium – keeps muscles contracting smoothly
  • Magnesium – supports heart rhythm and prevents cramps
  • Calcium – essential for strong muscle contractions
  • Chloride – works with sodium to maintain fluid balance

Fast Charge and Hydration - After heavy sweating from a brisk walk, playing a game of basketball, or working outside in the summer - you lose both water and electrolytes and may become dehydrated

You may feel sluggish, dizzy, or develop cramps. Adding a balanced electrolyte drink can restore hydration fast and get your performance up quickly.

Gopher Hydration Chart - Shows how much water to drink - 
Daily, benefits of proper hydration - 
Signs of dehydration (ChatGPT) -

Without electrolytes your body’s “electrical system” suffers and your performance and endurance drops. Water, with the right amount of electrolytes can restore your body and boost your performance. This is known as hydration

Water + electrolytes = energy.

Comments: Water keeps body systems working properly by moving nutrients, eliminating waste, regulating body temperature, and transportingr cooling fluids

Electrolytes keeps your muscles contracting, nerves firing, and cells balanced. 

How to Hydrate your Body - Drink water with electrolytes before a strenuous activity or working outdoor in hot sun.

  • Sip 6 to 8 oz of fluids every 15 - 20 minutes during heavy activity.
  • After a heavy workout, refuel with an electrolyte drink or eat foods like bananas, oranges, leafy green vegetables, and lightly salted nuts.
  • Watch your urine color – Still the best way to determine if you are dehydrated (pale yellow = good charge, dark = low battery). 

When you are hydrated, your body maintains normal temperature, delivers oxygen efficiently, lubricates joints, and supports brain and muscle function.

References -
How Much Water Does an Athlete Need? By Reilly Beatty 

5 Tips to Stay Hydrated and Not Water Down Your Workout - https://advancedathletics.com/5-tips-to-stay-hydrated-and-not-water-down-your-workout/



Some images provided by ChatGPT - For Informational Use Only!

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