How to Hydrate Properly Post-Workout.

In a word, SLOWLY.

Bear with me. Say you’ve just finished a 10-mile run. You’re prepping for a marathon. Go, you!

There you stand, breathing deeply. Your skin’s glowing, to put it nicely. And you are thirsty!

All you want to do is chug a gallon of water to replace what you’ve sweated out. I feel you.

So, what gives with the torture treatment advice of daintily sipping water like you’re having High Tea with the Queen? Why can’t you just guzzle it with gusto?

Speed Matters.

Because it’s not just about volume. It’s just as much about balance, as in your electrolytes.

Remember the glow I referred to earlier? If your dog were here to greet you, he’d be lapping your arm up like an ice cream cone and not just because he’d be happy to see you: because you’d taste salty. From the sodium you lost by virtue of sweating.

That’s why rehydrating isn’t just about replacing water. It’s also about rebalancing it for your health. Low sodium can lead to a variety of problems…

Pass the Salt, Please.

The continued state of low sodium is called hyponatremia. Its symptoms are brutal:

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Lethargy

• Malaise

• Headache

• Nausea

• Mental confusion

Mayoclinic.com

Back to Water Etiquette.

Let’s say you ignore my advice and just go for it, gulping down water by the trough-full. You’ll probably feel rehydrated. Check. Full even, as in a “sloshy bucket for a belly” full.

What do you think that does for your electrolyte balance? Uhh, nothing good.

But there’s more: What happens when you drink too much of anything too fast any other time in life?

Uh huh. A case of “Exit, Stage Restroom.”

And what do you think you just voided like a racehorse straight down the toilet? Exactly. More sodium and electrolytes, giving your body an even harder time to recoup. And quite possibly a case of hyponatremia.

So, after making a very short story kind of long, please rehydrate gently. And while you’re at it, try some MORE Alkaline Oxygenated Water. Our extra oxygen will help your achy muscles recover faster while you drink it slowly. You’re welcome!