No matter the distance you walk, jog, run, or cycle - maintaining healthy hydration levels is key to a good workout. When failing to replace lost body fluids, you’re likely to experience a detectable drop in your physical and mental ability, losing as little as 2% of your body weight. In fact, a fluid loss greater than 2% of body weight can result in a higher risk of nausea, headache, fatigue, and more. In this article, we’ve outlined the serious impact dehydration can cause.

We Lose Muscle Strength

Dehydration robs the muscles of electrolytes (our body salts) which can lead to those troublesome muscle cramps. Since muscles are controlled by nerves, the imbalance of water and electrolytes can weaken our muscle strength. You may know that magnesium is an essential electrolyte for our muscles. It also relieves muscle pain from the build-up of lactic acid when we workout. When the body experiences an imbalance of electrolytes like magnesium, muscle strength weakens, and tiredness can take over. Potassium is another electrolyte that is known to support muscle function. Lack of potassium can decrease the relay of signals from the brain that stimulate contractions, resulting in slower reactions. iPRO Hydrate is a leading hydration drink infused with electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium to support healthy muscles.   

We Lose Focus

Dehydration essentially makes the brain work harder on cognitively engaging activities. A recent study found those who experienced a fluid loss of 2% of their body weight noticeably saw a decline in their mental activity (source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal). This interferes with our problem-solving, coordination, and concentration skills. Adequate fluid intake is necessary to keep our brains functioning as they should!

We Experience an Energy Drop

Energy loss is a big indication of dehydration. Even the most subtle cases of dehydration can impact our ability to perform basic tasks. You may think an energy drink is a good quick fix for energy loss. Trust us, it’s not. Energy drinks contain caffeine, a diuretic ingredient, which triggers the need to urinate more and ultimately advances dehydration. Instead, try drinking a caffeine-free hydration drink, highly recommended over plain water by the professionals. Not only do these healthy hydration drinks help maintain energy levels, but also attentiveness when we would otherwise become worn out.

We Recover Slower

As serious as it sounds, muscle protein synthesis is the act of building muscle strength. When your muscles are dehydrated, the muscle protein synthesis stops, and your recovery slows down. Dehydration also decreases blood volume, forcing the heart to work harder to pump oxygen and nutrient-rich blood around the body. In 2012, an interesting experiment went underway to study the impact of hydration on heart rate recovery. Two individuals ran on a treadmill for 90 minutes - one was consuming a sports drink, and the other drank nothing at all. The experiment found that the person who drank a sports drink showed faster heart rate recovery, meaning their body recovered much quicker from exercising on that treadmill (source: Moreno et al., 2012).

The Hydration Drink of Choice

iPRO Hydrate is a healthy hydration drink formulated with natural spring water and sweetened with plant-based Stevia. Thirst-quenchingly fruity and rich in vital vitamins, iPRO Hydrate is one of the leading drinks in healthy rehydration. With added electrolytes to help keep you going and reduce the likelihood of muscle cramps, drinking iPRO Hydrate will enhance your next walk, jog, run or bike ride!

Recommended by parkrun, iPRO Hydrate is the drink of choice for healthy hydration. Right now, you can purchase a multi-pack with 25% off when you order through iPRO.Run!