Staying Hydrated: How Much Water Should You Drink Daily?

A big part of running long distance races is staying hydrated. Keeping the right amount of water in your body allows it to function at a better rate. Runners are typically very active people and the more active lifestyle that you have the more water your body needs. The amount of water your body needs also is dependent on climate, environmental conditions and medication that you may be taking. If you stick to the eight-glasses-a- day rule you should be fine with your water consumption. There is no need to drink more water than you need to as you could suffer from water intoxication. Endurance athletes (long distance runners) can sometimes make the mistake of putting too much water into their bodies. They over estimate how much water their body needs in comparison to the amount of sweat their body produces on its own. Being an endurance athlete you should avoid dehydration which can be caused by heat, sweat or sickness. Dehydration is cause when you lose 3%-5% of your body fluids. If you start to feel dehydrated take frequent sips of water, DO NOT gulp down gallons of water. Doing this will shock your body and the effects would be negative. Endurance Athletes sometimes substitute water for sports drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde. Sports drinks do not have the same benefits to the body as water does. Sports drinks don't hydrate the body like water does and contains sugars which contribute to your daily calorie intake. The eight-glasses-a-day rule will give you a benchmark of how much water you should be drinking but it’s important to listen to your own body. Depending on your body's activity you would need more water than that.

Fire Up Chips! Stay Hydrated

Written by: Derrick Morris

source:https://www.sharecare.com/health/water-liquid-nutrient/article/how-much-water-do-you-really-need