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Sports Hydration

Replace Electrolytes Lost During Sports

Sweating results in the loss of both electrolytes (particularly sodium) and water. Orange juice, moderate salting of food in the diet, and sports drinks help replace electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride lost during sports. 

Sports Drinks Versus Water: Which Hydrates Kids Best?

A number of studies in recent years have shown that sports drinks re-hydrate kids who are active in the heat better than water. Given a choice, kids will drink a lot more of a sports drink than of a glass of water. An oft-cited 1999 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology reported that drinking a properly formulated sports drink with carbohydrates and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) increased fluid intake by nearly one-third (32%) compared to water. Because they taste better than water, sports drinks encouraged kids to keep drinking until their fluid needs were met.

Kids Need To Drink Fluids Before, During and After Sports

For proper hydration, youth athletes need to drink fluids before, during and after sports, on a schedule, not just when they are thirsty.

Heat Illnesses: Basic Information

Athletes who exercise in hot or humid weather are prone to heat illnesses.  Here are the signs and symptoms of and treatment for the three kinds of heat illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat
stroke.

Youth Athlete Hydration Guidelines

Surprising as it may seem the most important part of an athlete's diet isn't what he eats, it is what and how much he drinks. Hydration before, during and after exercise is especially important for pre-adolescent children because they have special fluid needs compared to adults, or even teenagers. As a parent or coach, here are the precautions you should take to prevent heat illnesses in exercising children and making sure they drink enough fluids.

Hydration in Sports: It's All About Balance

As summer swelters on, those on the front line of athletic care should be especially vigilant of hyponatremia when treating sick patients or advising healthy individuals. Recommend having a variety of fluids freely available and advise people - especially exercising athletes - to drink when thirsty and reduce activity, splash with water, and seek a shaded spot when hot. Before we promote blanket advice to "drink lots of fluid" and "stay well-hydrated", we should be mindful that fluid is a balance - especially during exercise.

Take Closer Look At What Kids Are Drinking, Urges NHL Star

It is time parents take a closer look at the ingredients in the beverages we give our kids, says NHL star Ryan Suter.

SmartTeams™ Talks: Best Drink For Sports Hydration? Mostly Just A Matter of Taste

The consensus of experts is that any tasty drink works for sports hydration unless it is forbidden (e.g. energy drinks, coffee or tea), including room temperature or ice water, or sports drinks, says Dr. Jim MacDonald, a pediatric sports medicine physician at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

SmartTeams™ Talk: Urine Color Good Indicator of Child's Hydration Status, Especially Useful For Younger Kids

The younger a child is the less likely they are to drink to thirst, says pediatric sports medicine doctor, Jim MacDonald of Nationwide Children's Hospital. Urine color gives parents a good idea of their hydration status.

Saying Most Kids Aren't Dehydrated Not The Same As Saying Dehydration Not A Concern For Youth Athletes

It may be a myth that people need to drink 8 glasses of water a day, and that most kids are dehydrated, but, says a sports hydration expert, that isn't the same as saying dehydration isn't a concern for kids playing sports.
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