Why Is Hydration Important for Basketball?
Hydration is important for basketball because it can help to prevent injuries and boost performance.
Hydration helps the body stay healthy by providing fluids that aid in digestion, provide energy, and maintain electrolyte balance. Hydration also plays an important role in preventing muscle cramps during a game of basketball.
To dominate an entire basketball game, you need to step up your hydration with electrolytes and water, which will improve your athletic performance and recovery when the game is on the line.
Why Hydrate with Electrolytes?
Your body requires electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, potassium and other minerals) to replenish the ones lost from your sweat; this is why drinking water will not be enough to hydrate yourself. Electrolytes have multiple functions in the body, but they regulate fluid levels to help contract your muscles and fire your nervous system optimally.
Consequences of Dehydration
When you dehydrate, or you have an electrolyte imbalance, you are susceptible to a reduction in performance due to:
- Body overheating
- Muscle cramps
- Low energy (Fatigue)
- Lack of mental focus
- Decreased coordination
- High demand for oxygen
- High heart rate
Performance Benefits
You need to drink electrolyte water for 60 to 105 minutes before you compete because your body hydrates and absorbs it more efficiently at rest, preparing you to adapt to the intensity of the game.
You will see an improvement in your athletic performance since it reduces:
- Core body temperature
- Sweating – which results in fewer electrolytes lost
- Average heart rate
- Your feelings of fatigue
Since you will be less tired, it will give you the competitive advantage of playing up to 20 minutes longer than your opponents at a high intensity (depending on the basketball court temperature).
What about Sports Drinks?
Big companies that own sports drinks are great at advertising how their products are great at replenishing electrolytes. However, look at their nutrition facts; you will notice the calories are full of sugar and their low-calorie products do not have enough sodium, potassium & magnesium to optimally affect your performance.
Recommendations
The simplest way to make your electrolyte drink is to mix 1.5 teaspoons of salt with anywhere from 0.5 to 1L of water; whether you are using sea or pink Himalayan salt, it should be unrefined and free of additives. If you are not a fan of the taste of plain salt, at CoreXcellence, we recommend Elemental Labs or AtpLab, which have naturally flavoured salts with the following qualities:
- Sugar-Free
- Gluten-Free
- All Natural Ingredients
Overall
Basketball is a demanding sport that can take a lot out of you. That’s why it’s important to make sure you are well hydrated before, during, and after playing. By drinking plenty of fluids and eating hydrating foods, you can help your body stay healthy and prevent muscle cramps.
Staying hydrated will also help keep your muscles loose, preventing injury. So remember to drink up for an energized game! Have you ever experienced muscle cramps while playing basketball? If so, what did you do to relieve the pain? Let me know in the comments below or by emailing me at melvin@corexcellence.com. I’d love to hear from you
References
- DiNicolantonio, J., Land, S., & Kennedy, T. (2021). WIN: Achieve Peak Athletic Performance, Optimize Recovery and Become a Champion. Independently published.
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00690905
