Both organizations note that sweat rates for prolonged exercise can vary from 0. The ACSM suggests using pre- and post-workout weigh-ins to craft a personalized hydration plan over time based on your own typical fluid losses.

For instance, if you weigh 2. Another starting point recommendation is consuming 0. If you are running smaller bouts, closer to 0. ACSM also recommends consuming 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates not to exceed 80 grams per hour along with some sodium and potassium.

The ISSN, on the other hand, states that athletes should plan to consume roughly 12 to 16 ounces of fluids every 5 to 15 minutes over the course of a workout. Those performing more intense workouts for longer periods of time, especially in hot or humid environments might consider using an insulated water bottle and should plan on drinking more fluids more frequently, with those performing less intense workouts in less challenging environments skewing toward less fluid consumption on a less frequent schedule.

Post-exercise rehydration comes down to replacing the fluids and electrolytes lost during exercise. This is where the pre- and post-exercise weigh-ins can come in handy. According to the ISSN, for every pound lost during exercise, you should consume 3 cups of water.

This doesn't need to be done all at once. Rather, it can be done steadily following your workout, with the goal of completing consumption before your next bout of exercise to ensure you've appropriately rehydrated. The ACSM notes that if time permits, sticking to a normal eating and drinking schedule after your workout should be enough to restore euhydration.

But if you have to rehydrate quickly say, in between basketball games during a tournament , drinking about 1. Thirst is not a dehydration barometer. This is particularly true during long athletic events, where your fluid loss through sweat may outpace your body's response to flag for thirst.

Water is an excellent drink for rehydration, but you don't just lose water as you sweat—you lose electrolytes, too. And when you've participated in a particularly sweaty workout, or an extended workout in hot weather, you may end up with an electrolyte imbalance. This imbalance needs to be restored to ensure your body recovers appropriately.

In the following instances listed below, you should consider using fluids with electrolytes mixed in to help rehydrate. When you exercise for longer than 90 minutes, you're placing additional stress on your systems, and you're losing a significant amount of water and electrolytes through sweat.

For shorter workouts, the electrolyte loss is unlikely to be significant enough to impact performance. You can restore the losses more easily following your workout by consuming water and a normal diet. But when you start logging those extra-long workouts, your body is likely to need a boost of electrolytes in addition to water alone.

When you exercise in heat , your body uses it's natural cooling system—sweat—to keep your body temperature from rising. That means the workouts you do on hot days result in greater fluid and electrolyte loss.

If you're exercising in the heat, particularly if you're exercising for longer than 60 to 90 minutes, it is best to add some carbohydrates and electrolytes to your fluid consumption to prevent dehydration and immunosuppressive effects of intense exercise.

Doing so, will ensure you keep your system hydrated and balanced. You may not have ever thought about it, but exercising at higher altitudes results in more fluid loss, not only through sweat loss which remains similar to the loss you might experience at sea level , but through increased loss of respiratory water.

This loss occurs because the air is thinner at higher altitudes and you have to breath at a faster rate to intake the same level of oxygen as you would at lower altitudes. The result is that you expire more water into the air. Plus, the physiological changes that take place when exposed to high altitudes for a brief period of time when you haven't acclimated to the environment , also affect how your body responds to exercise.

All of these factors combined add up to a situation where you might benefit from electrolyte intake as you rehydrate.

Finally, any athlete who is experiencing greater fluid losses for any other reason should also consider using an electrolyte-enhanced fluid as part of the rehydration plan. This includes athletes with injuries, medical conditions, or illnesses—particularly if diarrhea or vomiting are involved.

It is particularly important to pay attention to electrolyte balance in any situation where dehydration is more likely to occur with exercise. To help you decide which drinks to use, Dr.

Modabber ranked some of the most popular options based on "which get the job done, without including too much of what you don't necessarily need—especially sugars. Athletes need to be particularly conscientious about water intake levels, as well as electrolyte balance in order to help prevent dehydration.

By paying attention to the color and concentration of your urine, and doing pre- and post-workout weigh-ins, you can develop a pretty good idea of your personal water intake needs.

But, if you're concerned about dehydration or you're unsure whether you're drinking enough water, consult with a sports dietitian or a healthcare provider that specializes in sports medicine to discuss whether you can get a more personalized assessment. How much water an athlete needs depends greatly on the type of athlete in question, as well as the age, sex, and body composition of the athlete, intensity of the workout performed, and the environmental conditions where the exercise is taking place.

That said, in addition to a baseline requirement of roughly 8 to 12 cups of water per day, athletes should consume an additional 3 cups of water for each pound of weight lost during the course of an exercise routine. Athletes should drink water consistently with the goal of urinating frequently with clear or almost-clear urine.

Any water consumption above and beyond this barometer for euhydration could set an athlete up for hyponatremia —a condition associated with excess water intake without a simultaneous increase in electrolyte intake, resulting in a potentially life-threatening electrolyte imbalance.

An athlete shouldn't continue to force water consumption beyond what has been deemed appropriate for their personal needs. In addition to consistently drinking water throughout the day, athletes can also turn to other foods and liquids to help ensure they're staying hydrated.

Fruit juices, smoothies, electrolyte drinks, and even fruits, vegetables, and water-based soups all contribute to total fluid intake. Geological Survey. The water in you: water and the human body.

Exercise and fluid replacement. Kerksick, C. et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 15, 38 National Academies Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Sawka MN, Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW. Hypohydration and human performance: impact of environment and physiological mechanisms.

Sports Med. Exercise and Seniors. Nutrition for Athletes. The Exercise Habit. Why Exercise? Exercise: How To Get Started.

Home Prevention and Wellness Exercise and Fitness Exercise Basics Hydration for Athletes. How much water should I drink while exercising? The American Council on Exercise has suggested the following basic guidelines for drinking water before, during, and after exercise: Drink 17 to 20 ounces of water 2 to 3 hours before you start exercising.

Drink 8 ounces of water 20 to 30 minutes before you start exercising or during your warm-up. Drink 7 to 10 ounces of water every 10 to 20 minutes during exercise.

Drink 8 ounces of water no more than 30 minutes after you exercise. What about sports drinks? Things to consider Dehydration happens when you lose more fluid than you drink.

Symptoms of dehydration can include the following: Dizziness or lightheaded feeling Nausea or vomiting Muscle cramps Dry mouth Lack of sweating Hard, fast heartbeat Symptoms of severe dehydration can include mental confusion, weakness, and loss of consciousness. What is heat illness? There are 3 stages of heat illness: Heat cramps Heat exhaustion Heatstroke Symptoms of heat cramps include painful muscle spasms in the legs, stomach, arms, or back.

How much water is too much? When to see a doctor You should see a doctor immediately if you have symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke. Questions to ask your doctor How much water should I drink each day? How much more water should I drink when I am exercising? What is the best way for me to prevent dehydration?

Am I more at risk for becoming dehydrated? Does altitude affect hydration? Is there a reason I should consider sports drinks while exercising? Resources American Council on Exercise: Healthy Hydration American Heart Association: Staying Hydrated — Staying Healthy National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Dehydration.

Last Updated: June 2, This article was contributed by familydoctor. org editorial staff. Categories: Exercise and Fitness , Exercise Basics , Prevention and Wellness.

Tags: dehydration , hydration. Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Related Articles.

About Advertise Contact. org is powered by. Water is the go-to drink throughout the day and during workouts. Eby suggests you consider a sports drink when you exercise at high intensity for longer than 45 minutes.

They contain electrolytes essential minerals such as sodium, calcium, and potassium , which are vital to bodily function. Trial these fluids while training to discover which work well for you.

Alcohol: Alcohol is a diuretic, which makes your body remove fluids at a faster rate. Caffeine: Caffeine also has diuretic effects, but not as much as alcohol. Generally, the fluid in a caffeinated beverage offsets any dehydrating effects.

Carbonated beverages: Carbonated drinks can cause gastrointestinal distress, and your body may not absorb carbonated fluids as well as flat liquids. Eby recommends certain populations keep an even closer eye on hydration and drink additional fluids.

As we age, our bodies contain less fluid overall, our sense of thirst diminishes, and kidney function tends to decline. Therefore, older athletes are more prone to both dehydration and heat-related illness. Exercise is generally safe for pregnant people, but they should be especially careful about hydration.

They need to maintain their own hydration and that of the baby. Finally, she says, athletes who participate in twice-a-day training, such as football programs, need to be extra mindful.

It can be especially challenging to maintain hydration if you work out more than once a day. Request an appointment, or learn more about Sports Medicine at Mass General Brigham and the teams we treat. Skip to cookie consent Skip to main content Skip to alerts Skip to pause carousel.

About Us Newsroom Hydration Tips for Athletes. More alert details. Hydration Tips for Athletes Contributor Sarah Eby, MD, PhD.