The Importance of Hydration and Electrolytes For Exercise
The Importance of Hydration and Electrolytes for Exercise
Hydration is a word that often makes you think of drinking water; however going beyond simply sustaining yourself during a sweaty exercise routine, water is essential to life. Having a water bottle for long durations of exercise is a nonnegotiable need.
Some athletes forgo water and drink electrolyte drinks and energy drinks to replace salt, potassium and other minerals lost.
“Sodium is the primary mineral lost in sweat during exercise," Pritchett says. "Sodium losses average about 1 gram per liter of sweat lost. So if someone loses 1 liter of sweat per hour, they are also losing about 1 gram of sodium per hour, on average."
Beyond hydration and electrolyte loss that hinders performance, an athlete can suffer hyponatremia, if sodium is at dangerously low levels.
Some signs and symptoms to watch for is fatigue, muscle cramp, nausea, and headaches.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10410838/