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Training tip: Hydration and health

Thanks to group fitness instructor and personal trainer Sharon Steele for sharing her thoughts on hydration below.

Why do we need water?

  • To form saliva for digestion
  • To keep mucous membranes moist
  • To allow our body’s cells to grow, reproduce and survive
  • To flush out body waste
  • To lubricate joints
  • To regulate body temperature through sweating as respiration
  • To act as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord
  • To convert food to components needed for nutrition
  • It’s needed by the brain to manufacture hormones and neurotransmitters
  • It’s the major component of your body parts

When I suggest to my clients to drink more water, the comeback is, “I would be running to the bathroom all the time. I don’t have time for that!” But my clients that take my advice report that they feel better and clearer headed with fewer headaches.

One little tip on identifying the amount of water to consume: take your weight, divide that number by half, and the result is how many ounces you need to drink each day just to be you! If you are working out, playing with children, playing pickleball or experiencing a heat wave you must drink more, 6 to 8 ounces for every 20 minutes of work, play or time outside.

The body relies on water, as you can see from these percentages of water in the body:

Brain 75%                 Kidneys 83%

Heart 79%               Blood 83%

Bones 32%.             Muscles 75%

Liver 86%

For hydration you can also add watery foods to your diet. Think cucumbers, watermelon, bell peppers and more. Summer is the perfect time!

Cheers to hydration from the Fortify Your Frame gang!