Hydration: The Flip Side of Sweat

For many athletes, sweating feels uncomfortable, though SweatHawg products can certainly help with that (our mission in life).  

But sweating is of course essential, your body relies on evaporative cooling as the primary mechanism to decrease surface body temperature and prevent overheating.

During activities in the heat, the cardiovascular system works overtime in order to provide blood to the working muscles, as well as increase blood flow to the skin for cooling. Unfortunately, if one area of the body is receiving less blood than needed, performance will be compromised.

While the temperatures may be similar in two different regions of the country, relative humidity is the most important factor having a direct relationship to sweating and cooling, as relative humidity determines evaporation rates.

The lucky athletes are those who train in areas of low humidity and welcome a nice breeze to keep the body from overheating. As for athletes training in high humidity, they are all too familiar with wet clothes and high heart rates during the first ten minutes of training outdoors.

How Much Should You Drink?

If you consume too much water and not enough electrolytes, your body pulls electrolytes from its cells in order to create the right balance for absorption. If you consume too many electrolytes and not enough fluid, your body pulls fluids from within to create the right balance for absorption.

Electrolytes modulate fluid exchanges between the body's fluid compartments and promote the exchange of nutrients and waste products between cells and the external fluid environment.

Heat may cause athletes to lose up to .5-4 L/hr of sweat, depending on body size (surface area), training environment, diet and ability to meet hydration and electrolyte needs. Hydration guidelines are not designed to replace all the fluid you lose while out sweating, but most of it. When you know your sweat rate, you can then aim to hydrate accordingly.

An optimal hydration solution is necessary in order to meet individual calorie and electrolyte needs, so choose carefully. Remember, liquid calories are essential in ensuring a successful performance.