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
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
It is often taken as a given fact that soy... Read More
Increasing the fiber in your diet has been shown to:... Read More
What I am also going to point out is the... Read More
What ancient tribes and people of the Amazon have known... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
Come on, guys and gals. Those Trix are for kids.And... Read More
1880s - Characterization of monosaccharides by Emil Fischer.1952 - Fresh,... Read More
Just as our country is currently engaged in a war... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
Omega-3 appear to reduce the risk of heart attack. A... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
Salt does Not Cause High Blood Pressure. Some things you... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683.... Read More
Lactose is the primary carbohydrate in milk. Cow's milk contains... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
If you drop a bomb, you kill not only your... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
Fats (triacylglycerols) ...Some basic terminology ...fat or fatty acid ...In... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
Soy, and most soy-based products, are nutritional powerhouses. Soybeans are... Read More
custom home cleaning Mundelein ..I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
The total calories that you should be consuming depend on... Read More
Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More
When you take your food next time, take care of... Read More
About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.1.1 million Americans... Read More
It is shocking how many people are not taking advantage... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
It is ironic how something as obvious as nutrition has... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
Most of us eat at restaurants for a variety of... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More
I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as... Read More
Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the... Read More
Some fats are good for you. Your body can't function... Read More
Nutrition |