We’ve all heard that drinking water is essential to stay healthy and that we should drink around 2 liters of water every day. Water regulates our organism and it keeps us hydrated. It stimulates our intestine helping to eliminate toxins and its consumption contributes to nutrient absorption.
Before a BJJ practice or to help your body recover after it, a good diet makes all the difference if we want to achieve the best possible results. Eating the right food in association with adequate water consumption helps to keep muscle mass and to lower your fat percentage.
As BJJ practitioners, we need to be up to date with our health. Drinking water should be made a habit since it will help us to achieve success. We should be drinking water before, during and after any physical activity. Dehydration will compromise performance and it can lead to dizziness, fatigue, nausea, etc. Maintaining a balanced diet combined with the proper water intake will contribute to keep you on track and to get better results.
Why keeping hydrated is so important?
Helps controlling blood pressure: According to a study conducted by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in the USA, drinking pure water, with no additive, can help to maintain a good blood pressure.
Contributes to keep your intestine working properly: It’s ideal to drink plenty of water and ingest fibers to maintain a healthy intestine.
Protects against kidney problems: Drinking plenty of water forces kidneys to work and therefore to eliminate toxins, protecting against health problems such as kidney stones.
Detox your body: Through urine, water helps to detox your body by eliminating toxins and other harmful substances. It also helps with urinary tract infections.
Prevents headaches: dehydration can lead to headaches and migraines.
Helps the body recovering: During physical activity, we tend to lose liquids through sweat. Therefore, drinking water helps to regulate and to keep that balance. Also, it can help to fight that sore feeling we get after practice.
Boosts our mood and brainpower: Studies have shown that people who drink water regularly, in the right amount, feel less fatigue, sleepiness, and confusion. Also, it can improve cognitive performance, both in children and adults.
So how many litters of water should we drink every day?
Well, it varies from person to person. For example, women should drink from 2-3 liters, while men should drink around 3-4 liters per day. However, this can change with age for both genders, since as you get older you tend to feel less thirsty and consume less water. Also, if you practice physical activities frequently, your water intake should be higher, to help your muscles recovering and to promote their growth.
Nowadays there are many apps that can help you to keep track of your water intake. Also, having your personal water bottle, one you can wash and refill every day, preferably glass (no plastic, lets thinks of the environment), can also be a way of motivating you to drink that extra liter you’ve been skipping.
Drinking the appropriate amount of water regularly is essential. But don’t forget that water alone isn’t enough. It has to be paired with a good diet to make a difference in your overall performance and well-being. The combination of these two will help you to get better results and faster, to improve your performance and to recover from soreness easily after your BJJ practice.
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