Are you hydrated?

Proper hydration is very important for max performance and recovery. The main problem is dehydration. If you keep up with the sports media you probably are afraid to be in the back half of a marathon because of the dead bodies lying around due to hyponatremia! If you are unaware of this problem, it occurs when someone drinks TOO MUCH water. It basically creates an electrolyte imbalance due to excessive water in the blood. It can easily be dealt with by eating during your endurance event. Now the media has been having a field day with this but it is something to be aware of. The biggest problem is the symptoms are similar to dehydration so people drink more water. If you are beginning to have signs of dehydration make sure you eat (gu, powerbar, fruit, pretzels, etc.) with your water or use a sports drink. This should take care of both problems.

I have been using a hydration powder (mixed with water, of course) called Ultima. It works very well for before, during, and after workouts. It has NO Sugar and is all natural. It tastes a wee bit strange because instead of sugar it uses Stevea. Diabetics (my father in-law uses it) and pregnant women can use it. It has all 5 essential electrolytes. I try different products all the time (usually for a full month) and I find Ultima to work best for me. If you are using it as a recovery drink, make sure to take in some protein within an hour after finishing your work out.

The link to Ultima’s is to the right under links (pretty clever, huh?) Check out the comparisons for yourself.