skip navigation

How Much Water Do Athletes Need?

By Educated Sports Parent, 11/03/17, 12:00PM PDT

Share

Do you spend hours in the gym or training for a sport? Are you struggling to drink more water? If you’re already well hydrated, there's no need for extra fluids.

 Drinking too much water is just as dangerous as not drinking enough. Yet, most people drink beyond thirst during exercise in order to meet their daily fluid requirements.

HOW MUCH WATER IS TOO MUCH?

Water makes up about 70 percent of the human body. Every tissue needs this fluid to survive. Every day, you lose water through sweat, urine, breathing, and other bodily functions. Thus, it’s essential to replace lost fluids and stay hydrated.

Even the slightest dehydration can lead to fatigue, decreased athletic performance, brain fog, headaches, arrhythmia, fainting, and difficulty breathing.

The minimum recommended intake of water is two and a half liters or eight glasses a day. The more active you are, the more water you should drink, at least in theory. The truth is that fluid requirements vary from one person to another.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s unneccesary to drink water all day long to prevent dehydration. This can actually negativity affect your health, leading to hyponatremia or water intoxication.