Running water: how much do athletes need to drink?

Optimising fluid balance in athletes is considered to be an important part of maintaining performance and avoiding the deleterious effects of under- and over-hydration. So it is perhaps surprising to note the widely conflicting and varied opinions on how best to replace fluids during exercise. Professional and elite athletes may have coaches and sports science teams that monitor their hydration status and provide guidance. However, recreational and amateur athletes, who represent a much larger group, obtain their information about fluid and electrolyte replacement from a variety of sources, including sports drink manufacturers. For some individuals, hydration may not be an aspect of training or performance that has been considered at all.

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