Skip to content
Water is an elemental component of both our planet and all organisms inhabiting it. It constitutes 60 to 70% of the weight of an adult human body, including about 75% of the brain volume, 75% of muscles and 22% of bones! Most of us are aware that without water there is no life. So why do we so often forget about the proper level of hydration of our body during the day?
The right amount of fluids
Already in school, in biology lessons, we learn that the minimum daily amount of water should be around 2 liters, which means around 8 glasses. However, it is rarely mentioned that in addition to the quantity, the quality and type of fluids also matter. Some drinks, such as coffee or black tea, consumed in large quantities can have a dehydrating effect. Fruit juices or carbonated drinks, in addition to fluids, provide the body with huge amounts of unnecessary sugars and food additives. The basic drink that we should reach for every day is water. In the autumn and winter, it is worth drinking it slightly warm. If you do not like plain water, you can add slices of lime and a few mint leaves to it or experiment with less obvious ingredients, such as ginger or pomegranate, sage, cucumber, raspberries. Remember that the body's need for water increases during hot weather. If you feel intense thirst, it means that your body is sending you an alarm signal about your water and electrolyte balance being disturbed.
The contents of the plate matter
We also provide our bodies with fluids through the meals we eat. Some fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, watermelons and tomatoes, contain up to 95% water. Polish cuisine is full of recipes for various types of soups, without which many Poles cannot imagine a filling dinner. It is worth drawing on this tradition, especially in the autumn and winter seasons, when our bodies are additionally exposed to hypothermia.
Another important issue from the point of view of body hydration is the amount of salt consumed. The daily requirement of a person for sodium is only 0.2-0.5 g. Long-term increased salt consumption can cause an increase in blood pressure, which is one of the factors in the development of hypertension responsible for, among others, stroke, heart attack and heart failure. In addition, salt causes water retention in tissues, which manifests itself as swelling. Remember that water retention in the body does not mean it is hydrated!
Many of us do not see the problem of excessive salt in our diet because we do not realize how much of it is found in products such as bread, cold cuts or cheese. Not to mention highly processed snacks such as chips or fast food. We recommend taking a look at the labels of the products we eat during the day and adding up the amount of salt taken in by the body - the result may surprise us.
Training
Intensive training causes the body to lose water quickly, which is excreted from our body in the form of sweat. With regular physical exercise, it is absolutely necessary to remember to drink the right amount of fluids. As the intensity of training increases, the daily requirement for fluids also increases. If, in addition, the activity takes place outdoors, you should always have something to drink with you. During exercise, the body also loses essential microelements along with sweat. It is therefore worth helping the body regain balance by using supplements containing vitamins and mineral salts. Activlab's offer includes Isotonic - an isotonic drink concentrate created with endurance athletes in mind. This drink helps to quickly and easily balance the level of water and electrolytes excreted from the body in the form of sweat. The main ingredients of the product are glucose, guarana extract, potassium, magnesium, calcium and B vitamins. Isotonic can be used both before, during and after physical exercise.
[products=1548,2628]
