Hydrate and Dominate! Why Athletes NEED Water.

Want a dominant performance out of your youth football athletes?  Teach your kids the importance of proper hydration; specifically the benefits of drinking WATER before/during/after practice and game days. Also, look to hydrate with fruits rich in water, such as watermelon, strawberries and grapefruit.

Why do we hydrate with water?

Simply put- water helps provide energy to our muscles and helps transport nutrients within our bodies. Want to avoid cramps? Drink water. Want to build some muscle? Bodybuilding.com tells us that water helps to build muscle by assisting in the formation of proteins.  Water is the super fuel necessary to perform at the most optimal level.

Forget all of the beverage commercials featuring paid athletes drinking neon colored drinks that you’ve ever seen everywhere (tv, billboards, internet advertising). Sport drink marketers have a sole mission and that is to generate profit for their corporations. Truth: sugar is highly addictive. Sugary beverage consumption contributes to childhood obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The popular sports drinks have artificial colors, and weird ingredients that can make you befuddled. Let’s avoid what is unnecessary and stick to what is important.

Soda- why the heck do we drink it?

Often times I am amazed when I see a mom, dad and child each sipping from large cups of soda purchased from a local fast food restaurant. Is there a set rule that when you go out to eat you must drink a soda? Parents you have the power to change this, chances are he’s learning this habit from his parents. .  When a kid sees poor dietary habits, he will pick them up as well.

Want to mix it up? Infuse water with fresh fruit (cut up pieces of your favorite fruit and drop them in a pitcher of water).

The real ultimate thirst quencher isn’t that sugary neon green liquid. It’s water. Eliminate the junk and your kids will be optimally fit to dominate.