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What’s the importance of drinking water during a workout for bodybuilders? Most people don’t realize the importance of water, so they rarely meet their daily recommended intake. What’s the importance of drinking water during a workout for bodybuilders? Why is water so important for bodybuilders? How can drinking water improve my workout?
Water consumption should be the main component of any bodybuilder’s diet, just like protein and carbs.1 When the body is dehydrated, protein levels drop, muscle weighs more, fat cells shrink, and water loss occurs at a faster rate. When dehydration occurs, the muscle becomes stressed, and it is more difficult to recover from intense physical activity. A person suffering from dehydration can injure his kidneys, develop muscle cramps, lose sleep, become fatigued, and become depressed. A person who is dehydrated also has a lower tolerance to spicy foods, stronger odors, and stronger flavors.
The effects of dehydration are not only negative for the body but can also negatively impact one’s mental health. Bodybuilders should consume large amounts of water before and after exercising in order to avoid the risk of being dehydrated. An increase in water intake will help replace the fluids that have been lost due to sweating and intense exercise. Furthermore, drinking water will help replace the calories that were used up during physical activity.
The Benefits Of Bodybuilders Drinking Enough Water To Maximize Their Fitness And Performance
First, the benefits of water have been well-documented over the past decade. Athletes have been drinking specially designed sports drinks for years to stay properly hydrated and prevent dehydration. However, there are certain times when drinking sports drinks is not always practical. This is particularly true for bodybuilders who want to maximize their performance while staying as hydrated as possible.
The benefits of drinking enough water can also extend to the everyday athlete. Many athletes struggle with consuming adequate amounts of water on a daily basis, especially athletes training very hard. By taking in extra water before, during, and after exercise, athletes can help themselves tremendously by reducing the amount of dehydration that could happen throughout a long workout.2
Bodybuilders can greatly reduce their risks of dehydration by drinking extra water before, during, and after exercise. Many athletes choose to hydrate themselves by consuming sports drinks because of the high levels of sugar and other additives that many beverages contain. However, when an athlete drinks more water during and after exercise, their body will be able to absorb more water, allowing them to train harder and longer without decreasing the amount of hydration they are getting.
The benefits of bodybuilders staying hydrated far surpass those of athletes who choose to drink sports drinks. When an athlete takes in extra water, his or her body will be able to absorb more nutrients and vital minerals, which will feed the muscles much better than water alone could.3 This can be crucial to recovering from a grueling workout. Water can also help the body repair itself following an injury or severe training session.
It’s important for athletes to stay hydrated. There is a direct relationship between how much you eat and how hydrated you are. An athlete who eats the right kinds of foods and consumes enough water to compensate for the extra food intake will have the most optimal fitness possible. If you are serious about staying in shape and learning how to maximize your performance while staying as healthy as possible, try to incorporate a daily habit of drinking water into your lifestyle. It will add benefits for bodybuilders drinking enough water to dramatically increase their health and athletic performance.
How Does Water Help With a Workout?
Water intake when working out can maximize the physical benefits of your workout session. Since water provides the majority of our body’s hydration, it is an important component during your workout routine. The benefits of drinking water during a workout are twofold. First, drinking more water during a workout will help you sustain adequate hydration throughout the exercise session, and second, the hydration provided by water will help aid in muscle recovery after your workout.4
Dehydration is common during intense sports, like marathons, triathlons, or any type of extremely physically demanding activity where water is a big factor. Even moderate dehydration can affect performance because it causes muscle fatigue and impaired neurological function. When you’re dehydrated, your entire body doesn’t receive sufficient hydration to produce sweat and perspire. This can reduce your endurance and weaken your overall performance during your exercise routine.5
While dehydration is a common occurrence during your workout, drinking water can help prevent or reduce dehydration. In most cases, you should drink between three and six cups of water per day. But if dehydration occurs more frequently or occurs when you least expect it, there are steps you can take to prevent the condition from becoming a serious problem. If you’re concerned about the role of water during a workout, you should consult with your doctor about taking extra measures to stay properly hydrated.
What is the Perfect Water Temperature for Drinking?
The answer to this question depends on the type of workout you’re doing, as well as the type of sports you participate in. If you’re participating in high-intensity exercises, you’ll need more than plain water to stay hydrated. Sports drinks and electrolyte replacement may be necessary to replace lost fluids during intense workouts. If you’ve never worked out before, it’s best to start out with plain water to determine your individualized water needs.
If you’re just working out at home, drinking purified water is a great way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your workout. You can also compare your results from pure water vs. an expensive sports drink to better understand your personal beverage preference.
Coldwater has a natural energy boost because it forces your internal organs to operate at a lower rate. However, drinking too much cold water may have serious consequences, so it’s important that you follow any recommendations your doctor gives you concerning the proper amounts of water to drink. Consuming distilled or purified water is the best way to get your hydration levels up and keep them high.
Dehydration Symptoms
If you have ever asked the question of how to know if you are dehydrated, there is a good chance that you have experienced one or more of these symptoms of dehydration. Some of the main symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, a headache, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, sweating, cramps, and a disorienting effect that you may feel like you are going to pass out.6
Dehydration can be very dangerous and cause serious health problems, so being aware of how your body is responding is one of the most important things that you can learn. Dehydration can cause your brain to not work properly and this means that you might not be able to think straight and you might end up making some mistakes that you will eventually regret. That is why it is so important that you always take extra care when you are dealing with your body in any way possible.7
Another thing that you should look for when trying to figure out how to know if you are dehydrated is the onset of any of these symptoms. Many times if a person is dehydrated their first symptom will be that they feel like they are going to pass out but this does not necessarily mean that you have passed out. In fact, if you were to ask anybody how to know if they are dehydrated you would find that a lot of people who suffered from severe dehydration had no prior signs of it. These symptoms include having a dry mouth and dizziness along with other more subtle ones such as being breathless and also having an irregular heartbeat.8
How Much Water You Should Drink Per Day?
The recommended water intake for bodybuilders varies from person to person, as everyone’s body is different and you must find what works best for you. One thing you may be concerned with though is how much water your body needs to function at its highest level. Did you know your body can maintain a constant weight no matter what it is exposed to? The water intake of a bodybuilder plays a big role in how the bodybuilder looks physically, as water helps flush out toxins and aids in the process of eliminating waste.9 A good intake of water does wonders for a bodybuilder as it gives him/her a healthy feeling, reduces muscle tension and stress, decreases the recovery time after hard training, and lowers your risk of cancer and heart attacks. The recommended water intake by a bodybuilder is about six to eight glasses per day, although this could change based on your physical condition and what exactly you mean by “normal” and “high.”
In addition to finding out how much water you should drink per day, a bodybuilder should consider his or her diet and whether or not he/she consumes any supplements such as protein, creatine, amino acids, multivitamins, or a multivitamin/mineral supplement. All of these things help increase hydration. Dehydration is one of the biggest problems for bodybuilders and the main reason they resort to muscle-building supplements in order to replace lost fluids. The key thing to remember is your body needs adequate hydration just like it needs nutrients and minerals to stay healthy. Without a good diet and an adequate multivitamin and mineral supplement, your body will quickly become dehydrated, which will lead to muscle cramps, cramping, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and much more.10
Dehydration can also lead to osteoporosis, high blood pressure, stroke, kidney stones, and other serious medical conditions. So, be sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Your bodybuilder’s diet is very important when it comes to staying hydrated but what you eat and how much you eat can make a big difference as well.11
Image Credits
Philadelphia Magazine / December 15, 2017
Azimo / January 31, 2018
Ultima Replenisher / 2021
Bodybuilding.com / July 15, 2019
1 “Water: How much should you drink every day? – Mayo Clinic.” 14 Oct. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256 Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
2 “Water Consumption — Safe Drinking Water Foundation.” 23 Jan. 2017, https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/water-consumption Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
3 “Benefits of Drinking Water: How It Affects Your Energy, Weight & More.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-water Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
4 “15 benefits of drinking water and other water facts.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814 Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
5 “How much water should you drink? – Harvard Health.” https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
6 “Dehydration – Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention – WebMD.” 20 May. 2021, https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/dehydration-adults Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
7 “Dehydration: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and More – Healthline.” https://www.healthline.com/health/dehydration Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
8 “Dehydration: Causes & Symptoms – Cleveland Clinic.” 16 Feb. 2021, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9013-dehydration Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
9 “How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day? – Healthline.” 5 Nov. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-water-should-you-drink-per-day Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
10 “Get the Facts: Drinking Water and Intake | Nutrition | CDC.” https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/plain-water-the-healthier-choice.html Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
11 “How Much Water Should You Drink Every Day? – WebMD.” 25 Jun. 2020, https://www.webmd.com/diet/how-much-water-to-drink Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.