Whether you are training for a triathlon, gearing up for CrossFit or just trying to stay in shape, you know you will have to make some sacrifices to get the most from your workouts. Besides cutting out sugar and junk foods that slow you down and getting enough sleep to recover from exercise, you need to make sure you are getting enough fluids and electrolytes to support your body’s systems.
Your body loses fluids all day long through normal metabolic processes, including:
- Urine
- Feces
- Sweat
- Respiration
- Medications
- Diet
- Stress
- Exercise
When you work out in hot and humid environments, you lose even more water as your body sweats more to try to cool itself.
Options for Rehydration
Drinking water may seem like the obvious solution to reduce dehydration. However, depending on your hydration levels and nutritional status before you begin your workout, water may not be enough. Your body needs electrolytes to sustain nerve impulses that control a number of bodily functions, including your heart beat. When electrolytes become depleted due to poor nutrition or increased fluid loss, you put yourself at risk for serious problems, even death.
Symptoms of electrolyte deficiency include:
- fatigue
- lethargy
- accelerated heart rate
- convulsions or seizures
- headache
- confusion
- irritability
- muscle cramping
- muscle weakness
- reduced performance
People who are weight conscious often cut back on dietary sodium, and they may avoid high carb foods like bananas and potatoes that contain high levels of potassium. Drinking filtered water to avoid added chemicals can be a double-edged sword, because filtering also removes important trace minerals that provide electrolytes.
In addition to sodium and potassium, other electrolytes include calcium, chloride, magnesium and phosphate. Sports drinks are designed to replace electrolytes lost from physical activity, but the high levels of sugars and chemicals in those drinks are often unappealing to health conscious individuals.
Best Way to Get More Fluids and Electrolytes
Drinking tons of water and sports drinks can leave you feeling bloated, and the fluids and electrolytes you need may not even get fully absorbed. When you ingest large quantities of fluids and nutrients at one time, your digestive tract may not be able to keep up, and much of what you consumed may end up being flushed out.
The best way to ensure you are getting all the fluids and electrolytes you need is through IV Hydration Therapy. During an IV therapy session, fluids, electrolytes and other vital micronutrients are slowly infused directly into your blood stream, bypassing your digestive tract and quickly delivering fluids and electrolytes to your thirsty cells.
IV hydration therapy can be done at any time, but it is especially useful in certain situations, such as:
- In preparation for a race or event
- After exercising outdoors in heat and humidity
- When you are feeling tired and run down
- When your muscles feel weakened
- After a strenuous workout or athletic event
- During times of extreme stress
IV Hydration Therapy in NYC
To keep your heart and muscles performing at their best, schedule an IV hydration therapy session at Advanced Cryo NYC in nearby SoHo. Our skilled clinicians will prep you and set you up with your IV cocktail. Then sit back and relax as fluids, nutrients and electrolytes are infused drip by drip to restore optimal hydration levels. During your visit, ask about cryotherapy for muscle recovery, and about other menu items geared to health and wellness.
