I have seen many people pick up a large bottle of water and drink it down after exercise. Is this the right way? In fact, after exercise, water is particularly particular, drink wrong, not only can not quench thirst, but will bring harm to the body. After exercise, sweat, water and electrolytes (mainly sodium and chloride ions, as well as a small amount of potassium and calcium) are lost in large quantities. If water and corresponding minerals are not replenished in time, dehydration and other abnormal manifestations may occur.
How does Chinese medicine understand this process? Sweat is the liquid of the heart. The evaporation of sweat requires the power of the heart to carry it out. A lot of sweat will consume the strength of the heart and lungs and the body’s water. Excessive consumption will lead to mental distress and drowsiness, especially in summer with high temperature and humidity, there will be a risk of syncope.
Now, let’s get to know the correct way to replenish water after exercise.
1. Drink slowly
Never gulp down a large glass of water. Modern research has proved that drinking a large amount of water in one breath has a great impact on the stomach, heart and kidney, which will increase their workload in a short time. Some people even have symptoms of “water intoxication”, such as dizziness, weakness, rapid heartbeat, and even spasm, disturbance of
consciousness and coma in severe cases. This is because excessive water is absorbed into tissue cells, causing cell edema, resulting in a series of functional disorders. Therefore, the best way to drink water is to “drink more and drink less”, one mouthful at a time, let each mouthful of water stay in the mouth for a while, moisten the lips and throat, which not only helps to quench thirst quickly, but also allows the body to absorb water slowly.
2. Warm drink
Do not covet refreshing and painful ice drinks. Our normal body temperature is between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius. After exercise, it sometimes rises by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. The gastrointestinal tract and organs are in a state of heat dissipation. If you drink ice water at this time, it will “interrupt” the body’s heat dissipation, the cold air will stimulate the hot stomach, and the stomach will use a lot of heat energy to warm the ice water moderately so that the body can receive it. In this way, the absorption process of water is prolonged, and it is easy to cause gastrointestinal dysfunction.
3. Add some “material” to the water supply
Pure boiled water is not the best thirst-quenching drink. It is not only water that is lost during exercise and sweating, but also all kinds of electrolytes. Therefore, you can’t just drink boiled water to replenish water. The simplest is to supplement the light saline with salt content of 1%, because the main electrolyte lost in perspiration is sodium ions. Drinks with a little sugar can help the body maintain a certain blood sugar concentration and delay the occurrence of exercise fatigue and hunger.