If you’re dripping with sweat after a workout, you know it’s time to rehydrate.
But before you grab your water bottle, it’s important to understand exactly what sweat is made of, because we lose more than just water when we sweat—we lose electrolytes, too. Replacing these key minerals can help you hydrate more efficiently and maintain peak performance.
Here’s what you need to know about the science behind sweat.
Why do we sweat?
Sweat is your body’s natural cooling system. When you feel hot—whether it’s from a hot day, a spicy meal, a stressful situation, or an intense workout—your body increases sweat production to stay cool.
“In general, we sweat to help regulate body temperature in hot conditions,” says Paul Falcone, MS, principal scientist at BODi. “When the water in the sweat evaporates, it cools the skin.”
Your skin contains millions of sweat glands and about a liter of sweat evaporates from your skin every day.
What does our body lose through sweat?
“Sweat is mostly made up of water and electrolytes, which are essential minerals in the body,” explains Falcone. Sweat may also contain traces of urea, uric acid, ammonia, vitamin C and other substances.
The primary electrolytes we lose when we sweat are sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. These electrolytes serve a number of important purposes within the body and help the nerves, muscles, heart and brain function properly.
Electrolytes are so vital, Falcone adds, that their levels are tightly regulated within the body to help keep basic processes from being disrupted. So when you’re sweating during a longer workout, it’s important to replace the electrolytes you’re losing in addition to water.
How to replenish what is lost when we sweat
Water is essential for hydration – no surprises there.
But during a longer workout—especially if you’re upping the intensity—a drink like Beachbody Performance Hydrate can help replenish fluids and electrolytes to help you maintain a higher level of performance.*
That’s because—along with all of their other duties—electrolytes play a critical role in hydration drinks by helping the body absorb water more effectively and maintain optimal fluid balance. Adding Beachbody Performance Hydrate to your water bottle can help replenish these electrolytes so you can rehydrate more efficiently.
“Electrolytes help with the osmolality of drinks, which means it’s easier for the body to absorb water,” explains Falcone. This focus on osmolality makes Beachbody Performance Hydrate more useful for hydration than water alone.
To ensure you’re getting the ideal balance of electrolytes, Beachbody Performance Hydrate is formulated with a scientifically backed combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates to optimize hydration, improve endurance and help jump-start muscle recovery.*
“Carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks have been shown to support endurance in clinical studies,” says Falcone. “Carbohydrates provide fuel for working muscles, and electrolytes support several bodily processes necessary for exercise.”
To get the most out of Beachbody Performance Hydrate, it’s best to drink it during or after a workout. Mix one serving with 8 ounces of water every 30 minutes of exercise to help maintain fluid balance and support performance.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
