When it came to keeping my body properly hydrated I must admit that, until recently, I was not properly informed.
And it’s not just about caffeine and alcohol. You need to know which sports drink (if any) is best for YOU!. If you need further help…look no further than this page. Here you will find products used by Team GB at the Beijing Olympics, no prizes for remembering how well they did – particularly Team GB cycling.
However, hydration isn’t just about water: fluid loss via among other things, sweating involves the loss of electrolyte minerals – calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride.
Electrolytes serve three general functions in the body:
- they control osmosis of water between body compartments
- many are essential minerals
- they help maintain the acid-base balance required for normal cellular activities
There are many reasons why replacement of these minerals via an electrolyte mineral-containing drink may be better then drinking pure water alone.