Tip from Marianne Timmer:Drink before you get thirsty

Santé is a co-subsponsor of Team Continu:the skating team led by Marianne Timmer. Marianne shares a tip every day to keep fit with Santé.

Marianne: 'You need one to one and a half liters of fluid per day for the body to function properly. With great physical exertion, perspiration and sauna visits, more moisture is necessary.

Water is essential. A person consists of no less than 55 to 65 % water. That water takes care of many different things:transport, temperature regulation, a good moisture balance, and so on. Coffee or alcohol actually removes water from your body, so keep that in mind and drink about eight glasses of water a day.

Drink before you get thirsty
Certainly with sports, the feeling of thirst can disappear during very intensive performances. And that while a thirsty feeling already indicates that you are actually too late to drink. Thirst occurs when the loss of fluid is about 2% of body weight. Therefore, you must train yourself to drink before you get thirsty. A fluid loss of more than 2% of body weight reduces sports performance. To replenish the fluid lost during exercise, one and a half times as much fluid is needed as was lost during exercise.

Did you know that…

• Green tea contains a beneficial combination of caffeine and antioxidants.
• Do you struggle to drink regularly? Then get used to drinking a glass of water after every toilet visit, so you certainly get enough fluids!
• Caffeine increases the reaction rate. Coffee is therefore the perfect brain drink. It also keeps you awake and sharp. While drinking a cup of coffee, the caffeine is in your blood after just four minutes.'

Missed a tip? Read all the tips from Marianne Timmer.