Simple Guidelines for Hydration

Losing as little as 2% of your body weight due to dehydration can negatively impact athletic performance. Unsure of what, or how much to drink? Here are some simple guidelines to follow:

* Drink 10 to 16 ounces of cold fluid about 15 to 30 minutes before workouts.

* Sports drinks are fine, particularly for intense activities that are at least 45-60 minutes in duration.

* Shoot for a sports drink that contains anywhere from a 6% to 8% carbohydrate concentration (most will list this on the bottle).

* Try to drink 6-8 ounces of fluid every 20-30 minutes during activity.