Thursday, January 22, 2015

Hydration

     It's a given that water is probably (and totally should be) your number one choice for hydration, especially as a runner. It's pure, calorie free, and most of the time it's free simply coming from your own home. Lucky for us, there's more than one beverage that can do the trick for what you want your body to do.
     As I said, water is perfect for before, after, or during runs. But sport drinks (such as Gatorade) are awfully wonderful when your workout is longer, and you begin to feel tired and like you're losing some energy. That's because sports drinks contain electrolytes, and carbs that will help your body absorb water, all together helping you in preventing fatigue. Personally I recommend going for a grab at a sports drink if your run is sixty minutes or longer. Water is always okay, but a sports drink will get you that extra support you may need.
     Second, is beet juice. If you're like me you probably thought "ABSOLUTELY NOT" as you read that. But hear me out. Beet juice has this magical power that gets that nitric oxide production of yours going, and along with that it'll improve your blood flow. As your blood flow increases your muscles will preform more efficiently. I recommend drinking beet juice before a run (obviously, so your muscles are all good to go). Along with that, don't drink it right before. If you're like me, you'll have to take it like medicine. Beets are exactly my favorite thing in the world to eat, let alone drink. The thought actually makes me a little nauseous. But drinking beet juice will make a difference for you. Don't drink it right before you run, either. Drink it about an hour or more before your run, especially so you won't still be gagging when it's time to workout! It's totally worth it, though-especially during weeks or days of intense training.
     Last thing I'll touch on is coconut water. It's very similar to the sports drinks I had talked about a few paragraphs above. The difference between the two, however, is that coconut water has fewer carbs than sports drinks too. If you think about it, though, that 's sort of obvious, since it's much more natural. (377)

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