Posted By:
Kelly Parcell
Category:
Athletic Performance
Hydration is a key element in performance and recovery for athletes. The total percent of water in the human body is affected by how much body fat you have, as well as your age, gender, and health. However, on average the human body is about 45-70% water, which amounts to 40-45 liters of water in the body (165 x 8-ounce glasses of water!). There are two compartments that house this water, one is intracellular, inside cells where 62-65% of the water is found, and the other is extracellular, outside cells such as the blood and GI tract where 35-38% is found. Whether it is hot or cold out, when you exercise you lose water through breathing, muscle contraction, blood circulating, and sweating. Most people know that lack of fluids and lots of physical training can cause dehydration, but did you know that traveling also causes dehydration? Why traveling causes dehydration: People drink less water with the limitations around fluids and flying Anxiety and stress cause sweating and there is more body water loss The recirculated air on airplanes has 20-30% less moisture in it Air conditioning and sitting actually cause body temperature to rise, and people sweat more but the cool...