Are You Staying Hydrated Whilst Skating?
Have you drunk enough water today? If you’re sat there with crispy, dry lips and a pounding headache, then our guess is probably no!
One of the biggest problems we face as a species is dehydration.
Half of us don’t even know our bodies are crying out to be watered, while others are constantly knocking back drinks that actually dehydrate us more in a desperate attempt to reverse the side effects that are actually caused by the latter. Coffee, for example, is one of the biggest dehydrators, so the more you drink, the more water you should consume alongside that.
A lot of us though, stay somewhere in the middle with room for improvement. This is because we drink enough to keep us going but not enough for our bodies/minds to work at optimum level.
How does skating tie into all this? First, as the skateboarder is now considered an athlete (of Olympic standard, we might add), you bet it gets the sweat pouring. This, of course, means you need to replace all the water you lose.
Whether summer in your country has just ended or is only beginning, it is vital to keep your water levels up. Here are a few ways to do so all year round:
Eat Your Water
By eating lots of fruit and veg, you’re unknowingly and effortlessly hydrating your body from the inside out whilst also giving it extra nutrients and vitamins that ordinary tap water doesn’t contain. Some particularly juicy fruits/veggies include:
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Onions
Add Some Flavour
There are two types of people in this world—the ones who love the taste of water and the ones who don’t. We’ve seen too many kids at the skate park on ridiculously hot days with a can of Monster in hand, to know that a lot of skaters fall into the second category. If you’re one of those, you’re probably guilty of waiting until you’re super sweaty and possibly even a bit dizzy before downing a pint of water. But it’s not good to chug it back as that can actually flush out some much-needed vitamins and minerals from your body. For that reason, we’ve come up with a few ways to spice up your water so you’ll keep sipping throughout the day.
- Mint - Add mint leaves for a boost of antioxidants and vitamin A, which is critical for eye health and night vision. If you see better, you skate better!
- Lemon - For a dose of vitamin C, add lemon. It is said to aid weight loss and reduce the risk of heart disease and digestive issues.
- Basil - This one might be a bit out there but adding basil leaves to your water releases many vitamins and minerals. It also contains antioxidants such as beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. Alongside those, another one of basil’s health benefits is its essential oils which can be absorbed into your body through basil water.
Check Yo’ Self
It may sound obvious, but so many of us can miss what our bodies are telling us if we’re not present in the moment, so another way of keeping yourself well hydrated is by just checking in with your body.
Any of the following symptoms could be a result of dehydration:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Bad breath
- Headaches
- Chronic fatigue
- Moodiness/irritability
- Dry lips/face/hands
- Bloating
- Swelling to the hands or feet (also known as water retention)
- Yellow or brown urine
And in case you need a little more help. Here is a urine chart 😝 if you’re towards the middle/bottom of the chart, do yourself a favor and start sipping.
