Athlete's Health - Hydration

I’m going to start blogging about Good Health since it is the foundation of a HEALTHY Athlete!
 
One of the biggest lessons I learned being a parent of Student Athletes was how important Nutrition is to their success.  It’s not about being Fat or Skinny, it’s about fueling their bodies properly. 
 
Kris Massaro, Softball Strong, https://softballstrong.org/,  recently developed The Athlete’s Guide for Heathy Eating for our Collegiate Sports Advocate (CSA) Student Athletes and when we announced it we asked for the families to email us for a copy to see how many really engaged in the opportunity.  Only 10 families asked for the plan out of 198.  It shows us that the families are NOT very engaged in doing the most important thing that they can for their Athlete!  So, I’m going to continue to FORCE FEED the families until they understand how important it is.  We learned from our daughters when they went to college and had to perform at the highest and they discovered how important it was to eat properly.
 
PARENTS!  You are in charge... yes, your teenagers don’t dictate what you buy at the store or what food you purchase for them.  Take CHARGE it is the best habit you can form for your entire family.  It’s about good health, not rewarding them with tasty treats.  I can testify after doing the Whole30 program for a month now that sugar and other treats are less interesting.  I think many of us feed our families out of convenience and lack of knowledge, at least it was for our family. 
 
I must give my disclaimer… I’m not a nutritionist, my degree is in business not medicine.  This is just my experiences.  Always consult a Doctor especially if you have Diabetes or other medical conditions.
 
Let’s start with Hydration.  So many families go right to the “Sports” drinks.  The brand doesn’t matter, READ the label.  I was raised by a mother who calls herself a purist.  Eat only what is made by GOD!  She always said “if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, BEWARE.”  Sports drinks have their place as a replenishment but are usually so full of sugar and unneeded calories so know when are why you’re drinking them.  https://www.drquila.com/
 
http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/water-vs-sports-drinks.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/trade-sports-drinks-for-water-201207305079
 
It is also my belief to hydrate several days before a major event.  It is safer to say “Just drink water”.  Flavor it with fresh fruits.  It is so refreshing to add a slice of lemon, lime or some berries. 
 
One of my CSA Student Athlete’s mom, Christina Pruitt bought me a Swell Bottle.  It keeps it cold or hot whichever you pour into it.  I carry it with me everywhere I go.   https://www.swellbottle.com/
These metal containers also limit the amount of chemicals you’re exposing yourselves to by drinking water from a plastic bottle.  Most cancers are believed to be caused by the chemical and poisons in our food and water.
 
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/10-cancer-causing-toxins/
 
Dehydration can sneak up on an Athlete as they’re putting their bodies through extreme workouts, training and competing. Know the signs of dehydration.  Keep your Athlete hydrated with water and watch for the signs.  Drinking enough water is a challenge for the average person.  Limit the products that detract from proper hydration, sugar, caffeine. 
 
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/dxc-202610
My goals in these blogs is to share as much information and inspire you to investigate, learn and be in charge of your Student Athletes great habits for their futures. 
 
Collegiate Sports Advocate.  www.CollegiateSportsAdvocate.com
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