Everyone needs to drink water. It's even more important if you exercise and are trying to get fit, finds Diana Clement.
Not everyone needs to drink more water. Cultural changes that involve many people carrying bottled water with them and sipping constantly means they get sufficient or even sometimes too much water says Elaine Rush, professor of nutrition at AUT University.
Too little water and our internal thermostat starts going up, which can affect performance. Too much, and water washes out necessary electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and sodium, which we need for the optimal performance of our bodies.
Human "homeostasis" or state of balance is the optimum, Rush says. It is about keeping the body regulated with a steady amount of fluid in to match the fluid going out at that time. This homeostasis can be thrown into imbalance through bodily processes such as evaporation from the skin, exercise, and environmental factors such as heat and humidity.
If you don't drink sufficient water your performance is compromised. Your heart has to work faster, meaning your energy levels will decrease and you won't be able to metabolise fat as easily as you should. Conversely, you'll get more out of your exercise session if you're properly hydrated. Providing you have sufficient liquid in your system the chemical ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is turned into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) during exercise and helps your muscles contract. That process is impaired if you're dehydrated. A good way to find out if you're drinking enough is to look at the colour of your urine after exercise. If it's dark, you're probably dehydrated.
