Admit it, there’s no better feeling than after a workout. Your endorphins are up, your mood has shifted and you’re ready to tackle your day. From running and cycling to swimming or rock-climbing, after a good sweat it’s important to rehydrate. However, there are different ways to rehydrate that don’t involve just chugging water down.
Check out these three ways that will help you properly hydrate after an intense workout and get along with the rest of your day!
Think about hydrating before you’ve even began your workout
It’s obvious that hydrating after physical activity is important, mostly because your body will be telling you it needs it. But don’t forget to prepare for your workout by drinking water ahead of a workout (experts typically say two hours beforehand). It’s also important to drink water during your workout at regular intervals to continue regaining what you’ve lost. By coming to the workout prepared, your setting yourself up for success (and most likely a better workout experience!)
Get your hydration from sources other than water
Water is one of the best sources of hydration, but there’s other ways to rehydrate and replenish after a workout. Consider certain foods that have hydrating properties in them, like watermelon, cucumbers, lettuce and celery (the list goes on and on!). Snacking on these foods afterwards will supplement your water intake. You can also consider a hydrating smoothie with leafy greens and coconut water. Finally, eating salty snacks like peanuts and pretzels, can help replace electrolytes lost.
Add electrolytes to your water
Speaking of electrolytes, you’ll want to replenish those as well. Sodium is the most important electrolyte for replacement. The easiest way is by adding them to your water through an electrolyte package. Sports drinks can also work, but just be sure they’re not loaded with too many added sugars. By eating a wide variety of healthy foods, you’ll also be able to replace the electrolytes lost during an intense workout or physical activity.
While taking these steps will help you rehydrate in a general sense, it’s also difficult to know exactly how much fluid you’ll need to take in to balance out what you’ve lost.
With SweatID, you can plan for proper rehydration by tracking and analyzing your sweat in real time.
Learn more about the solution helping users swat smarter and safer.
