I'm always amazed at how many people seem to know the answer to this question yet in practice they fail. Everybody I've talked to seems to know that 8-12 glasses of water a day is the recommended standard. But if I ask them how many glasses of water have you consumed today? The answer is usually none. Or the other standard answer at a corporate environment "does coffee count?"
While 8-12 glasses of water is great for the average sedentary person, many of us are fitness conscious or on the pursuit of some type of bodybuilding physique. With that in mind, I think the new standard for us should be 1-2 gallons of water a day.
As a bodybuilder, you are putting much more nutrients, food, supplements, and other stuff into your body. What your body does not use, it must rid itself of by any means necessary. Usually it does this via water. So drinking plenty of water becomes a necessity. Increasing protein puts a strain on your body and drinking lots of water can keep things "moving." Creatine monohydrate supplementation requires a lot of water. Creatine is all about cell volumization. Making sure your cells are completely hydrated helps with the volumization process. NO2, a hemodilator, requires water. Many other supplements require water as a transport and a flushing method.
The side effects of drinking too little water are an excess buildup of certain chemicals. Creatine can leave behind some buildup that overtime, becomes a bit hard to pass. Putting such a strain on the body is also self-defeating. But don't get me wrong, it's not just about Creatine and NO2. It's about making sure you are hydrated.
Being properly hydrated has it's benefits other then just the flushing methods and cell volumization discussed above. Your state of alertness is affected by your hydration levels. Performance in the gym by a hydrated body is enhanced. Your body is roughly 70% water. It makes sense to hydrate it. Drinking water is not just for hot days. It's for intense workouts in the gym. In fact, being hydrated has that perpetual pump that is so sought after.
There can be too much of a good thing. Drinking water to excess leads to water intoxication, referred to as hyponatremia. As you consume water, blood plasma increases and dilutes the salt content of the blood. While this is happening, you lose more salt by sweating. Consequently the amount of salt available to the body tissues decreases and over time, the loss interferes with brain, heart and muscle functions. Water intoxication is more commonly found in endurance athletes.
Drink plenty of water per day, but just keep in mind, there can be too much of a good thing. Being properly hydrated is necessary for optimum performance in the gym and for keeping your body performing well.
Marc David is a bodybuilder, writer, and author of the the e-book "The Beginner's Guide to Fitness and Bodybuilding" (BGFB): What Every Beginner Should Know but Probably Doesn't. Marc has written over 20 articles and has been featured in several health and fitness websites. Marc's opinionated and informative articles on bodybuilding, weight loss and training are featured regularly on: http://www.freedomfly.net
To subscribe to Marc's free b-weekly e-zine, visit the Freedomfly website here: http://www.freedomfly.net
Studies support the benefits of eating a diet rich in... Read More
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa)An oat is a grass that... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
According to the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Through Eating?You get fat when you... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a... Read More
With summer comes more sun and with more sun comes... Read More
When you actually sit down and think about it, bottled... Read More
Dr. Barry Sears revolutionized nutritional thinking around the world with... Read More
Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,... Read More
Essential fatty acids are the number one recommendation for anyone... Read More
If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
Water is the most abundant substance in the human body.... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
Your face turns flush and your skin starts to itch.... Read More
A green and lush oasis in the middle of a... Read More
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
THE RISKWhen you consume food that's high in acid or... Read More
reliable home cleaners Buffalo Grove ..Food nutrition factsFinding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used... Read More
(Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body... Read More
First of all you have to have a bucket. You... Read More
What is the Atkins diet and how can it help... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
One must always keep in mind that copper is not... Read More
With summer comes more sun and with more sun comes... Read More
During a recent discussion with my father about low carb... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
Are you sick and tired of the confusion about our... Read More
At any grocery store in North America right now, there... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
DeathDeath. Why it happens? Why do we die? Why do... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More
The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
DIETARY SOURCES OF GLUTATHIONE: Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant and... Read More
Flaxseeds may be the smallest seeds you will find in... Read More
Fats have been unfairly lumped together as being all bad... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Nutrition |