—I learned the hard way a few years ago. Marathon training in Florida. Even with an early morning start, the heat and humidity was literally draining my body. Following the conventional wisdom of the time, I drank plenty of water. Hydrate! Hydrate! Then I got sick. Extremely dizzy and nauseous.
—Just before we headed to the emergency room, a neighbor suggested that my potassium was too low. In the drug store, my wife discovered that a sports drink was the most effective and speedy cure short of an IV in the hospital.
—As a fit runner, my cooling mechanism was very efficient. Water in, sweat out. The more I replaced sweat with water, the more I depleted vital mineral salts. My body lost its ability to maintain the necessary balance between water and minerals. In the extreme, losing that balance is dangerous. Cardiac rhythm, for example, depends on a sufficient level of potassium.
—Ever since, when I am working out, I substitute a sports drink for water. Sure, there’s a little sugar, but the amount is negligible compared to snacks or soda and it contains the mineral salts that my body needs. Be sure to check the label to see what your favorite drink provides.