Today is National Hydration Day today & with the official start of summer this week (Happy Solstice!), it’s a great time to check in on your hydration plan. Starting exercise hydrated, hydrating during exercise, and replacing lost fluids and electrolytes after exercise are important strategies for athletes seeking optimal performance. Dehydration of as little as >2% of body mass has been demonstrated to impair performance, especially in the heat and research suggests that a significant number of athletes may be starting exercise already dehydrated.

We wrote about the importance of hydration and created a downloadable fact sheet with some simple ways to know if you are hydrated and some basic guidelines for hydration. Check it out and let us know if we can help you develop a hydration plan this summer. Schedule a complimentary 15’ call to learn more.

Sources

James, L. J., Funnell, M. P., James, R. M., & Mears, S. A. (2019). Does hypohydration really impair endurance performance? Methodological Considerations for Interpreting Hydration Research. Sports Medicine, 49(S2), 103–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01188-5

Magee, P. J., Gallagher, A. M., & McCormack, J. M. (2017). High prevalence of dehydration and inadequate nutritional knowledge among university and club level athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 27(2), 158–168. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2016-0053