Jun 12, 2024
Do More Than Quench Your Thirst. Hydrate!
How many times have you ended your run and gotten in your car and headed home or to run errands without taking even a sip of water?
Did you know the sooner you drink after your workout, the better?
Replenishing with H2O right after your run or workout helps replace the fluids you lose when you sweat.
There are many liquid replenishing drinks on the market, but water is by far the best one for you. Many dieticians say that water should be your go-to beverage. However; many of us will agree that although drinking water is a daily habit, it can get boring and we long for some type of flavor.
Ultima Replenisher electrolyte powder offers a delicious taste with maximum hydration.
I have tasted the raspberry and grape and the grape took me back to the grape Kool-Aid days!
Staying hydrated sounds simple, but yet research shows us that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated and are not even aware they are dehydrated!
Most people do not get enough water daily. Some see it as a chore to ensure their fluid intake is sufficient or exceeds the normal daily suggested amount. The importance of staying hydrated includes the most critical, which is lubricating the joints. After a workout, your joints need some tender love and care. Water offers that TLC. You make sure you shower after a workout, correct? You make sure you change clothes and prepare for your next event, correct? Then you must ensure you take care of replenishing your fluids so your body can work properly and efficiently.
If you’re struggling to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, the amount recommended by many health experts, here are great reasons to stay hydrated.
- Improved brain performance
As little as 2% fluid loss, can affect your memory, mood, and concentration. Adding just a few glasses of water to your daily intake can have a positive effect on cognitive skills and awareness stabilize your emotions, and even combat feelings of anxiety. Many of us joke about “brain farts” and say things like: “the first to go is our memory”, but our memory and the function of the brain are nothing to joke about.
- Digestive ease
Your body needs water to digest food properly. Without enough water, you may experience irregular bowel movements, gas, bloating, or heartburn. Many times when a person is experiencing any of these discomforts, they will reach for another product to combat the discomfort, when the solution is that they just need to drink water.
- Weight loss and weight management
Water gives you a sense of being full, so it serves as a double blessing. While keeping you hydrated, it also offers a feeling of satisfaction from any hunger; therefore keeping you from making trips to the pantry or refrigerator for a snack. (Now if you’re still making those trips, emotional eating may be a factor, and that is another topic for another article). One study of women with excess weight found that drinking extra glasses of water before each meal resulted in substantial loss in body weight, body mass index, and body composition. I cannot say I have experienced this, and I do drink a lot of water, so I consider this a hopeful truth and will continue with this regimen!
- Kidney stone prevention
If you’ve ever experienced having a kidney stone, you know how painful it can be. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your urinary tract healthy and flushes out harmful bacteria.
Another important habit to incorporate with drinking water properly is when to drink water before a race. Just like cramming for a test does not produce great results, the same goes for gulping down large amounts of water before heading for the pavement. Being properly hydrated before race day is critical to your performance! It is best to properly hydrate days before leading up to a race and to include an additional cup or two cups of water each day leading up to race day. The increase should be gradual.
Key signs to look for that you may be dehydrated, are you feel thirsty and your urine is dark. Other symptoms can include light-headedness, dizziness, fatigue, and headache. Ways you can help yourself hydrated are:
- Take a water bottle wherever you go and refill it as needed.
- Drink water before each meal. 4 – 6 ounces is the recommended amount.
- Reach for water instead of sugary drinks. Say no to soda!
- Try ULtima water replenishers in your water to add great flavor!
- Listen to your body and drink water as soon as you feel thirsty.
- Include more water-rich foods, including watermelon, fruits, vegetables, and low-sodium soups in your meal routine.
Hydrate! Stay healthy! Hydrate and quench your thirst with nature’s best – H2O!
By: Eden Barbee-Mabry / (@gardenonthegram – IG/ @EdenJBe – Twitter)
Eden Barbee-Mabry is an Education Support Analyst with the State of Georgia. Eden is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was led to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia after graduating from Clark Atlanta University in 1988. Eden joined Black Girls Run! in the Spring of 2016 and graduated from the Walk B4 You Run program in June of 2016 and is currently Run Lead for the Fairburn, Georgia group. Eden is a purse lover and strives to inspire every woman because her belief is that although the circumstances may be different, every woman can extract strength from another woman’s story.