Hydration myths busted for Hong Hong’s fitness brigade
The facts about water and mineral levels that Hongkongers should know for summer workouts and runs, from a leading US sports nutrition expert
As summer temperatures rise to record levels in Hong Kong, working out becomes a bigger challenge than ever. The more we sweat, the more important it is to keep well hydrated.
But there is a lot of conflicting advice and confusion when it comes to what, when and how often to drink. Here, we bust some common hydration myths:
Myth: by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated
Truth: feeling thirsty is the body’s way of telling us to drink. If you listen to your body, you’ll know when to drink and exactly how much to drink so you’re optimally hydrated, says Dr John Heiss, director of sports and fitness at global nutrition company Herbalife.
Heiss, who has been developing sports nutrition products since his days as a PHD biochemistry student at the University of California, Los Angeles, was recently in Hong Kong to launch his latest creation, Herbalife’s CR7 Drive sports drink, which was created in collaboration with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Our bodies evolved over millions of years to accurately let us know when we’re thirsty,” says Heiss, a former competitive downhill skier, cross country runner, and cyclist. “If you drink according to the body’s thirst indicators, you’ll be in pretty good shape.”
