Drinking Enough Water
This is a question I received from a blog reader which I have answered on the site for the benefit of all.
Question: I have often seen it recommended that bodybuilders should drink a lot of water. Is it really necessary to drink several liters of water a day in addition to other fluids, even when you are not thirsty? How much would you recommend?
Water is the most essential nutrient that the body needs, yet humans unfortunately do not have a highly developed sense of when they are dehydrated. In addition the thirst reflex is easily quenched long before complete re hydration has occurred. Other fluids may quench the thirst reflex, but this does not mean that your body is being re hydrated effectively. Other fluids simply have less water than water itself, and in fact many of them act as diuretics, effectively dehydrating you. And the body cannot adapt to being dehydrated. Water performs too many functions in the body (including being a major component of blood and of the fluids which act to lubricate your joints), and if the body is not able to get enough water you will suffer for it in some way. Chronic “mild” dehydration can lead to skin and hair problems, urinary tract and excretory tract problems; and even short term dehydration can reduce your stamina in the gym.
I recommend that you drink enough water so that you have five clear urinations per day. On days when you train, you should drink enough water afterwards to have a minimum of two clear urinations prior to going to sleep. Of course if you train in the morning you should drink enough water to get the full five or more clear urinations over the course of the day. During your training you should consume half a cup of water every 15 minutes. If you have not been drinking this much water, you will no doubt find doing so to be a nuisance at first, but within a couple of weeks your body will convince you that you had been dehydrated before.
Water is an essential element of good nutrition. Most medical advice considers water to be one of the most important parts of good sports nutrition. Read sports nutrition advice and learn about how sports and nutrition training is a winning combination for your body.
 |
 Similar Posts On GainingWeight.info |