Water and bodybuilding go hand in hand. Drinking lots of water is absolutely essential when following a bodybuilding regimen. This is because when exercising, we not only sweat a lot, but the muscles lose some their water as well. You need to drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated. Since the body is about 80% water, it can become stressed very quickly if the water level is not replenished. You can live without food, but you can’t live without water. In order for all the body processes to take place, water is the key ingredient for breaking down protein into amino acids and enabling your body to use the nutrients from the food.

Although water is a critical element in digestion, it is also essential as an insulator and protector of joints. It is actually a shock absorber for the joints that do get stressed even on a regular day, but even more so when you start bodybuilding. Water serves as a protector for the tendons, so if you continue exercising while becoming dehydrated, you could be causing damage to the tendons. They need lubrication just like any moving parts on a piece of machinery. Water is the lubricant of the body.

Everyone should drink about 8 glasses of water a day. Experts maintain that you should drink 0.6 ounces of water per day per pound of weight. The water consumption needs differ according to individual body weights.
There is also a debate about what type of water you should be drinking. Sports drinks, advertised as being exactly what you need when exercising, may actually contain electrolytes that you don’t need. You don’t need to spend any extra money buying special water when plain bottled or chlorinated tap water works just as well.

By Tony Collins