The Role of Electrolytes in Hydration

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The pressure that occurs in the small intestines is very sensitive to pressure changes. If you're drinking something that's too concentrated in carbohydrate, for example, it raises the pressure and can't really absorb anything. The body has to dilute that again before things can be absorbed. When we're exercising, we need sodium and a little bit of glucose because we've had blood flow diversion away from the gut. We want to work with the physiology under this hypoxic environment.

Episode #259. Have you ever put much thought into your hydration? If you think that drinking two litres of plain water a day meets your hydration needs, then this conversation is for you. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Stacy Sims to explore the science behind optimal hydration and its impact on performance.

You’ll learn how to determine proper hydration, the role of electrolytes and glucose, and which commonly held beliefs about hydration are myths. Dr Sims shares her research findings and provides practical tips to improve your hydration for better performance and overall well-being.

Specifically, we discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Dr. Stacy Sims on hydration (1:25)
Nuances of hydration (3:35)
Electrolytes (7:02)
The problem with plain water (12:02)
How much sodium do you need in a hot or cold environment? (15:00)
Sodium and fluid intake during exercise (16:31)
Dehydration and its effects on performance (20:07)
Importance of slow and steady hydration (22:22)
Distilled water and hydration (23:38)
Is adding salt healthy? (24:59)
How to tell if you're dehydrated (25:52)
How much water should you drink a day? (27:47)
Coconut water for hydration? (28:22)
Why do electrolyte supplements have potassium, magnesium, and sodium? (30:25)
Carbohydrates and hydration (31:49)
Carbohydrate intake during endurance performance (36:52)
Hydration on low carb diets (38:36)
Fluid balance requirement for men and women (40:44)
The urine specific gravity test (44:53)
Sauna for men and women (46:51)
Are coffee and tea dehydrating? (48:00)
More hydration myths (50:03)
Hydration before an endurance event (51:00)
Creatine (52:08)
Frequent urination at night (54:30)
Dehydration among athletes (56:40)
Outro (58:45)

To connect with Dr Stacy Sims, you can find her on Instagram and Facebook. Visit her website, https://www.drstacysims.com, to learn more about Dr Sims and find resources to improve your performance.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

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