| Proper Hydration and Cramping | | | | depress potassium and magnesium levels which |
| Maybe you're not an athlete and you think that | | | | leads to cramping. With the sugar levels you |
| needing to be hydrated doesn't apply to you. But, | | | | elevate your blood sugar in a spike which is bad |
| here's a startling fact: If you are only 2% | | | | for performance in a game, match, or meet that |
| dehydrated you are subject to a reduction in your | | | | lasts longer than half an hour. |
| cognitive function, your short-term memory | | | | The newest beverage to hit the market Vitamin |
| decreases, and your visual-motor function is also | | | | Water is not much better. If you read the label |
| impaired. So you may want to read on. | | | | and do the math you'll realize that the amount of |
| In order to be properly hydrated you need AT | | | | sugar in the bottle is the same as in a can of |
| LEAST ½ half your body weight in ounces of | | | | soda. Additionally, the nutrients are not enough to |
| water. For example if you weigh 200lbs you need | | | | really make a difference. |
| to drink about 100 ounces of H2O. That's if you're | | | | What can make the difference? Supplying the |
| NOT an athlete, if you are training, working out, | | | | body with the proper nutrition for sport |
| or competing, you need to increase that amount. | | | | performance. Eating nutrient rich foods and |
| You should start your day with a big glass of | | | | supplementing. This helps the body get what it |
| water. When we wake up we are dehydrated. | | | | needs. You have to give the body what it needs |
| While we sleep our body uses water to function | | | | on a daily basis. Fresh, organic fruits and |
| and water is lost in water vapor as we breathe. | | | | vegetables paired with lean organic meats help |
| Personally, I have a hard time with cold water | | | | provide the body with the proper nutrients to |
| first thing in the morning so the night before I fill | | | | maintain its electrolyte balance. Did you know that |
| up a 16oz glass and leave it on the counter for | | | | there are minerals like gold in an apple? The |
| the morning. Room temperature seems to be | | | | minerals are absorbed from the soil and when you |
| best for me. As I go through my day I carry a | | | | eat the fruit you get the nutrients into your |
| BPA free water bottle with me with the ounces | | | | system. Sadly, since many of our foods are |
| marked on the side. I set myself a goal to have | | | | nutritionally degraded from current farming |
| half of my hydration needs done by lunch. I do | | | | practices, many of us are mineral deficient which |
| not recommend water from water bottles you | | | | is where supplementation comes in. Using a good, |
| get from the store. The plastic in those bottles is | | | | clinically tested supplement into your daily will help |
| known to leach chemicals into the water, | | | | your body function better no matter what you |
| especially when left in hot cars, which are toxic to | | | | put it through and help supply your body with the |
| your system. So don't try doing something good | | | | proper nutrition for sport. |
| for yourself and end up doing something bad. | | | | Here's a word of CAUTION: Just because drinking |
| Speaking of doing something bad let's talk about | | | | water is good for you: It helps your cells function |
| other beverages that people drink that think | | | | better, helps the body eliminate toxins, helps your |
| they're doing themselves some good. The most | | | | body make energy needed to move this is not a |
| popular beverage that the athletes drink is | | | | case where you say to yourself, "okay, she said |
| Gatorade or one of the -ades. There are a million | | | | drink more water. If some is good than a lot |
| of them. If you don't believe me go to your local | | | | must be better." WRONG! You can over hydrate |
| market and take a look in the beverage cooler. | | | | and flush your electrolytes out of your system to |
| Athletes drink these drinks because they think | | | | a point where you make yourself sick. I had a |
| that it will help with cramping, maintain proper | | | | friend in college who did that, he ended up in the |
| electrolyte balance, and help improve their | | | | hospital for three days trying to recover. But that |
| performance. Sadly, this is not the case. Those | | | | is really, really rare and you'd have to be going |
| products are laden with sodium and sugar. In the | | | | crazy with the water intake. |
| body when you elevate sodium levels you | | | | Water is still KING. |