If there's one thing that's predictable about the British weather, it's its unpredictability.
After the coldest winter on record, runners, cyclists, triathletes and endurance sports enthusiasts have been enjoying the recent spell of warm weather to the full.
But, warns sportASSIST, the distributor of Shotz Electrolyte, training and racing when the sun shines might be a welcome relief - but ignore the importance of proper hydration at your peril.
When you're training in the hot weather, the body's need for fluid increases. The hot environment challenges the body, which has to work harder to maintain a steady core temperature. In order to do this the heat is shuttled to the skin, increasing your sweat rate. This is our body's main method of cooling and, although sweating is a vital mechanism for losing heat, it comes at a price - dehydration!
An increased sweat rate leads to loss of not only water but also important minerals including sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. What's more, as your body becomes more used to the heat, your cooling mechanisms improve, your sweat rate is further increased and you need to drink more to offset this.
With fluid losses equal to just 2% of body weight being shown to have a detrimental effect on performance, just how much should you drink to avoid dehydration? One thing's for sure, drinking water will not replace all the importance electrolytes - or minerals - we lose when we sweat. Studies show clear performance advantages when consuming an electrolyte drink such as Shotz Electrolyte, compared to water.
When fluid loss is significant, as occurs when the weather is hot, hydration can be impaired if these are not replaced. The most significant mineral concerned is sodium as losses can lead to headache, confusion, nausea and cramping [see editor's note].
Having a good hydration plan in place for training and racing means you will at least minimise the negative effects energy and fluid loss has on the body.
The electrolyteSHOTZ Tablet is an effervescent tablet that dissolves in water, is sugar free, has no artificial colours, is simple to use and is so amazingly portable that you can stay hydrated for the duration of your event - whatever that happens to be.
Staying hydrated and replacing electrolytes is a smart move for anyone who wants to perform well and the Shotz Electrolyte Tablet has all the answers.
Editor's note
In the 1996 New Zealand Ironman Triathlon, 9% of those who suffered medical complaints during the race and had to drop out were suffering from low sodium concentrations in the body. One individual had consumed 16 litres of water during the course but as a result of low sodium concentrations had had suffered from cramping, nausea and confusion. The water on its own actually diluted sodium content in the body exacerbating the condition.
-ENDS-
For more information on about this press release, please contact the media manager:
Mark Wilson
Tel: 01733 810902 or 07773 772864
media.centre@assist.co.uk
For additional SHOTZ product information: www.assist.co.uk/brands/shotz