Hydration for swimmers is perhaps one of the most underestimated aspects.
Find out what, how much and when it is important for a swimmer to drink!
Bearing in mind that most weight loss during training is mainly in the form of liquids, it is obvious how important it is to reintegrate what you have lost. It is particularly overlooked in swimming because, compared to other sports, you do not realise how much liquid you lose in the pool.
For example, you sweat and feel hot when you go for a run or play football: the logical consequence of this is to drink cold water, even just to cool yourself down.
You do not feel like you are sweating when you swim, but you lose liquids just the same, for example by producing more urine. That is why you are more likely to suffer from dehydration problems.
Inadequate levels of hydration for swimmers: what kind of problems are we talking about?
The most obvious problem is the greater likelihood of suffering from cramps. Creating a water imbalance disrupts the process of muscle contraction and, hence, results in cramps.
This can also cause sudden changes in body temperature, cardiac stress and a feeling of weakness. This inevitably means that failing to hydrate before/during/after physical exercise can affect your…
