Exercising and water go hand in hand together. Whenever you are exercising it’s important you drink enough water to stay hydrated and maintain your optimal performance levels. When exercising, your body releases water through sweat, causing your fluid levels to drop. If you are not consuming enough water, this will cause you to feel dehydrated and drained, which will then affect your performance levels. No matter your performance levels, whether you are an athlete, semi-pro, or enjoy exercising as a hobby, drinking water when exercising is so important.
With water being a crucial part of how well we exercise, below we have put together a guide on the importance of drinking water when exercising.
Regulates body temperature
No matter your environment, when exercising you will be sweating and releasing heat from your body. The more active you are, the greater effect this will have. By consuming enough water when exercising, you help your body regulate its temperature, replacing the fluids that you have lost. The hotter the weather when exercising, the greater amount of fluids you should drink.
Boosts energy
The more water released from your body when exercising, the more dehydrated you are going to feel. This will have a knock-on effect of low energy levels and you feeling fatigued. When you are feeling fatigued your performance levels will drop as well as your concentration. By staying hydrated, you can boost your energy and improve your mental and physical performance. We always bring a 1-litre water bottle with us when exercising and aim to finish it and refill it within a session. Drinking water when exercising will be a lot easier this way.
Prevents headaches
One of the main causes of headaches after exercising is down to dehydration. Like many people, you are not alone in being guilty of potentially not drinking enough when working out. Ensuring you drink enough water will help you prevent headaches as well as improve your overall wellbeing. Whenever you are on a rest period, try to have a sip of water to replenish the liquids you have lost from your body. Getting enough sleep will also help prevent headaches as lack of sleep is another indicator that you do not get enough rest and recovery time.
Reduce risk of injury
We mentioned above that when you are dehydrated you will find your energy levels drop and so will your concentration levels. Having your concentration levels drop may result in a potential injury – especially if the sport you enjoy requires high levels of concentration. You may also find your muscles are prone to cramping when you are dehydrated. Drinking water when exercising is a great way to reduce the risks of injuries happening to you.
Improves your recovery time
DOMS is short for delayed onset muscle soreness. After a big session of exercising, your body will need to recover over the coming days. This soreness is known as DOMS and it can come on up to 72 hours after your workout – whether that’s participating in a sport, solo activity, or a gym session. Drinking water when exercising is a way to aid your recovery time by helping flush out the toxins within your body.
Prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke
If you find yourself working out in the sun and in hot temperatures then you may be at risk of overheating or worse getting heat stroke. Along with wearing the right protection such as hats and ensuring you take regular breaks in the shade, drinking water is another way to combat the risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Overall, it’s important to drink water before, during, and after exercise to stay hydrated and maintain good health. The amount of water you need to drink will depend on several factors, such as your age, weight, and the intensity and duration of your exercise. We would always recommend that you try to drink at least 2-3 litres a day as recommended by the NHS.
What benefits do you think drinking enough water offers? Which of the above points did you find most useful? Is there anything you think we should add to our article? Let us know in the comment box below.