10 Debunked Hydration Myths

When it comes to health and fitness, no topic has more widely-believed myths than hydration. Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body, and it becomes even more important while you're exercising. Be sure you aren't falling for these false beliefs about hydration.

Drink Water When You’re Thirsty

When you feel thirsty your body is already dehydrated so waiting for thirst is not helping your body. Try to drink water consistently throughout the day. Always bring a water bottle with you so you can easily refill and stay hydrated.

Sports Drinks Are Great For Hydration

False. Sports drinks are great for people who are exercising excessively or training for a few hours a day. Other than that, sports drinks are not a good way to hydrate for every day activities. They contain a lot of sugar and salt that your body usually does not need to replenish its resources. Stick to water.

No Such Thing As Too Much Water

There is actually a thing called water poisoning from drinking too much water. You don’t need to freak out through, this usually only happens to less than 1 percent of marathon runners. Drinking a crazy amount of water causes the sodium level in the blood to reach a dangerously low level. This is why sports drinks are a must for intense runners.

Dehydration is An “Old People Problem”

Healthy adults can suffer from severe dehydration too, although children, seniors, and people will chronic illness are more prone to it. For signs of dehydration, watch for a flushed complexion, rapid pulse, fast breathing, dizziness, and overall weakness. If you notice these symptoms, replenish your fluids ASAP!

Clear Pee is Healthy Pee

A clear color is a little excessive. Urine that is light yellow in color is a healthy sign. But don’t use that as your only measure of hydration. However if your urine is darker or very vibrant you need to focus on drinking more water because that is a sign that your body doesn’t have enough fluids to flush out all the waste.

8 Glasses A Day

While 8 glasses is a good ballpark estimate, it is not written in stone. How much you should consume to stay hydrated varies depending on daily activity, climate, food consumption, even the clothes you wear. Focus more on how your body feels rather than counting glasses all day.

Water Is a Great Way to “Detox”

While your body definitely needs water to function there is no evidence that it makes your body cleaner. And drinking too much water could actually hinder your kidneys from doing their job of ridding your body of its toxins. So sorry, a water detox would be really easy, but it doesn’t exist.

Staying Hydrated Eliminates Risk of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is life-threatening condition in which your body temperature rises above 104 F. Dehydration makes you more prone to heat stroke but there are many other factors that play a part too: body size, fitness level, age, and air temperature. Staying hydrated will help but pay attention to the other factors too.

Caffeine Dehydrates You

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes you pee more. However research has shown that exercising 2 to 3 hours after consuming caffeine decreases those effects. Also if you always have a cup of coffee in the morning, your body is more adjusted to the caffeine level and it doesn’t affect your body’s water level as much.

Pure Water Is Always Best

Water is a great way to hydrate, but in some situations your body needs more. If you are running errands or chilling in the park on a nice day, sipping on water is perfect. But if you are running 5 miles in August, your body loses a lot of its much-needed sodium through sweat. In this case you should hydrate with water infused with electrolytes, like a sports drink.