Whether you’re an athlete who exerts energy daily or you’re an individual trying to live a healthier life, hydration is key to feeling great. Some people enjoy drinking water and won’t be seen without a thirst quencher in hand, while others may turn to their sodas and juices in an attempt to “stay hydrated.” However, it’s important to understand what provides your body with hydration benefits and how you can get more hydration regularly. Here are some hydration facts to think about:
Hydration can be hard with too much caffeine
If you drink a lot of caffeine, perhaps in the form of energy drinks and coffee, you may be tricking yourself into thinking that you’re getting hydrated. However, the reality is that your caffeine habit may actually be causing you to feel even more dehydrated. It may mean that you have to use the bathroom more regularly, depleting your body of hydration and causing you to need even more hydration than you thought you needed.
The more you sweat, keep up with hydration
If you’re someone who sweats a lot, it’s important to plan your hydration accordingly. While your sports buddy may not need all that much hydration on your run, ride, or trek, if you tend to sweat profusely anytime that you exert energy, it’s not a bad idea to add a bit of extra hydration to your pack. Custom water bottles can make hydration more fun and help you remember your water when leaving to exercise.
When you sweat a lot, you’re releasing some of your body’s level of water, which is needed for optimal function. So, it’s important that, as you sweat, you continue to hydrate.
Athletes may need to add electrolytes
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time training for your sport and regularly depletes your body of energy and hydration, you could benefit from some extra hydration. A lot of athletes who do endurance sports will use electrolytes in their water.
There are various options out there, but for those who tend to sweat a lot and who also spend a lot of time in motion, it’s wise to find electrolyte products that include sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Talk to your doctor about the best options for your specific health needs.
Don’t go overboard
There is such a thing as too much water. So, before you go gung-ho about the purported 8 liters a day that we’re all supposed to be drinking, think about how drinking too much water could impact your kidney health. While there aren’t many people who tend to overhydrate, for some with health conditions, it is possible. Swelling can happen due to overhydration, and not relieving yourself after drinking excess water isn’t safe. While this may be very hard to do, it can happen, so keep this in mind.
Make it easy
Whether you exercise often or not, it’s always important to get enough hydration. Make it easy to stay hydrated by investing in the kind of gear and bottles that simplify hydration for you. If you’re an athlete, you may want to look into hydration packs from Evoc or Camelbak to keep you hydrated while outside.
For anyone who is just looking to stay hydrated, there are plenty of water bottle brands that offer insulated bottles that can help you keep your water cool and that are easy to carry. Avoid adding to the waste in the environment and stay hydrated by finding the perfect water bottle for you.
In Conclusion
We all need hydration. Even those of us who don’t like to drink water. Whether you’re an athlete or not, hydration should be a part of your everyday activity, and as difficult as it may be to get enough water daily, you’ll want to make it a priority. A few bottles a day of water can be a good start, but don’t rule out adding electrolytes to your daily intake.