Why hydration is important

Almost 70% of the human body consists of water, so it's no surprise that we need to stay well hydrated to keep healthy. We need water to transport nutrients to the cells and to help our bodies to get rid of waste products. Water also helps to control body temperature and lubricate joints, organs and tissues. And most of the chemical reactions in the body also take place in water. It’s the most natural drink on earth. After all, people drank water long before they drank tea, beer or wine. Although there is nothing difficult about drinking a glass of water, there are still people who have many questions and misunderstandings about the world's oldest drink, especially in sports.

It is vital to realize how important water is for the proper functioning of almost every cell, tissue and organ in the body. It is necessary for proper digestion and delivery of nutrients to your cells, and to help regulate body temperature. Water also acts as a "shock absorber" for the brain and spinal cord, and it lubricates joints, organs and tissues. This is certainly useful when you as a Viking are tackling all obstacles.

Of course, your age, size, gender and physical activity play a role in determining your water needs, as does the climate (when it's hot and dry, you need more, when it's rainy and cold, you need less). As a general rule the recommended daily fluid intake is about 1.5 to 2 liters of water.

During an endurance run like Strong Viking it is extra important to stay hydrated, especially when it's warm outside. With a loss of 2% hydration there is already a decrease in performance, and of course you want to get to Valhalla as soon as possible.

If you are not well hydrated, your body alarms you in a way that first manifests itself as thirst and a dry mouth. Signs that you may not get enough fluid include dark urine, constipation, bad breath, muscle fatigue and headaches. But by the time your thirst mechanism starts to work, you're already pretty dehydrated, so it's important to keep track of your fluid intake during the day. Remember, if you get thirsty, you're already too late.

The two main factors that cause fatigue during exercise are depletion of the body's carbohydrate reserves, and dehydration due to loss of water and electrolytes in sweat. During an endurance run like Strong Viking, you can lose as much as 0.5 to 2 liters of fluid per hour by perspiring (1). This fluid loss is a combination of water and electrolytes (e.g. sodium, potassium and magnesium).


Because hydration has a direct influence on your sports performance, it is even more important for you as a Viking to maintain your hydration level. Electrolytes support good muscle function and help regulate body temperature and are therefore essential.


So don't forget to drink at all the resting posts you'll encounter during your Strong Viking to be fully rehydrated for the next phase of your run. Sports drinks not only provide the necessary fluid, but also contain electrolytes that have been lost due to perspiration. They also provide carbohydrates to fuel the muscles during your run.


In cooperation with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Herbalife24 has developed sports drink CR7 Drive. CR7 Drive helps you at the resting post to quickly fuel your Strong Viking performance and to maintain your hydration. It's a modern sports drink with natural flavors and colors.


CR7 Drive releases the Viking in you!





1 This will depend on the intensity of the effort, environmental conditions (such as warm weather) and individual characteristics.