WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION?

By: Matt Price – Strength and Conditioning Coach, LA Kings, NHL

Dehydration can occur when the body does not have as much water as it needs to function properly. It is normal to lose a certain amount of water each day by sweating, breathing, and using the washroom. Typically the body is able to replace the lost water by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water, however if too much water is lost, or you aren’t eating or drinking enough, its possible to become dehydrated.

Since hydration status is so critical to health and performance, athletes and coaches attempt to monitor hydration status in several ways. While sports scientists may use objective methods such as Urine Specific Gravity tools or Bioelectrical Impedance devices, there are a few simple, great ways to monitor your own hydration status on the go.

Here are five signs and symptoms of dehydration and the pros and cons to each way of monitoring hydration status:

While pure water is a great option, an engineered product like BioSteel Sports Drink is designed to optimize fluid intake (taste!) and retention (electrolytes).

Matt Price – Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Los Angeles Kings  

Matt Price brings a no-nonsense, no excuses attitude to hockey’s Hollywood team, the Kings. As the strength and conditioning coach for the LA Kings, Price’s job is to have the players as durable and resilient as possible. With a masters in kinesiology and a background in hockey himself, Price got his first big break with Canada’s alpine ski team in 2007 and has been with the Kings since 2014.