When you’re dripping with sweat after a workout, you know it’s time to rehydrate.
But before you reach for your water bottle, it’s important to understand exactly what sweat is made of. This is because when you sweat, you lose not only water but also electrolytes. By replacing these important minerals, you can hydrate more efficiently and maintain peak performance.
Here’s what you need to know about the science behind sweat.
Why do we sweat?
Sweat is the body’s natural cooling system. When you’re feeling hot, whether it’s a hot day, a spicy meal, a nerve-racking situation, or an intense workout, your body sweats more to stay cool.
“Typically, we sweat in hot conditions to help regulate our body temperature,” says Paul Falcone, MSc, principal scientist at BODi. “When the water in sweat evaporates, it cools the skin.”
Your skin has millions of sweat glands, and about a quart of sweat evaporates from your skin every day.
What does our body lose through sweat?
“Most of your sweat is made up of water and electrolytes, which are essential minerals in your body,” Falcone explains. Sweat may also contain trace amounts of urea, uric acid, ammonia, vitamin C, and other substances.
The main electrolytes lost during sweating are sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These electrolytes serve a variety of important purposes in the body and help maintain the normal functioning of the nerves, muscles, heart, and brain.
Falcone added that electrolytes are so important that their levels are tightly regulated in the body so that basic processes are not interrupted. So if you sweat during a long workout, it’s important to replace lost electrolytes in addition to water.
How to replenish what you lose when you sweat
Water is essential for hydration, but it’s no surprise.
But during long workouts, especially if you’re upping the intensity, drinking a drink like Beachbody Performance Hydrate can replenish you with both hydration and electrolytes to keep you performing at a higher level. . *
That’s because electrolytes, like all other roles, play an important role in hydration drinks by helping the body absorb water more effectively and maintain an optimal balance of body fluids. . Add Beachbody Performance Hydrate to your water bottle to replenish electrolytes and help you stay hydrated more efficiently.
“Electrolytes adjust the osmolality of your drink, which means it’s easier for your body to absorb water,” Falcone explains. Because of its focus on osmolality, Beachbody Performance Hydrate is more beneficial for hydration than water alone.
To ensure the ideal balance of electrolytes, Beachbody Performance Hydrate is formulated with a scientifically-backed combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates to optimize hydration, improve endurance, and strengthen muscle mass. Promotes recovery*.
“Clinical studies have demonstrated that carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks support endurance performance,” Falcone says. “Carbohydrates fuel muscle work, and electrolytes support several body processes necessary for exercise.”
To get the most out of Beachbody Performance Hydrate, it’s best to drink it during or after your workout. Mix one serving every 30 minutes of exercise with 8 ounces of water to maintain fluid balance and support performance. *
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
