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
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa)An oat is a grass that... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
Today we're shifting our focus from wealth to health. First... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
You can start today - right now, even - on... Read More
What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
With the array of different diets and diet foods available... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to... Read More
In health circles there has been much recent talk about... Read More
What is the Atkins diet and how can it help... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
Most red and white meats are very fatty and are... Read More
High Fructose Corn SyrupBefore we get to high fructose corn... Read More
Nutrition facts have become a part of everyday life because... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
Organic farming is the production of food using all natural... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
If you drop a bomb, you kill not only your... Read More
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
A frequent misunderstanding about macrobiotics is that it is a... Read More
Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
East Meets WestAsian cultures have realized the medical benefits of... Read More
I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More
Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in... Read More
High Fructose Corn SyrupBefore we get to high fructose corn... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
Dieting is a pain. I think basically everyone would agree... Read More
"Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed... Read More
Nutrition |