Posted By:Dawn Heeke
Posted On:June, 03rd 2008
Category: Nutrition
As Summer Approaches, Think Hydration You are putting on your pedometer and accruing your steps! The weather has been beautiful so you might be skipping the water bottle. Now that the weather is getting more humid and hot it is important to THINK HYDRATION! Drinking adequate amounts of water when going for a long walk will help regulate your body temperature. It acts as a coolant to keep the body from overheating during activity. If you do not drink adequate amounts of water before and during your walk it can lead to dehydration which can ultimately cause life-threatening heat illness. Sweating excessively can increase your water needs. Most of us walking 60 minutes or less do not have to rely on sports drinks. These drinks are designed for athletes who engage in 60 minutes or more of strenuous activity. Sports drinks can provide a lot of calories which many of us walking are trying to decrease. The - Make sure you drink at 8-10 cups of water per day for your normal activities. - Drink an additional 17 oz. of water two hours before excercise. - Drink 5-10 oz. of water every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise. Remember to drink on schedule because thirst is not always a reliable indicator of hydration. If you sweat excessively, you may want to see how much water your body uses during a workout; weigh yourself before and after walking: for every pound you lose, you need to drink an additional 2 to 4 cups of water. So get outside and enjoy all the summer activities – just remember to bring your water bottle along!