Hydration key for winter athletes

Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 40, Issue 3.

Amongst the many challenges athletes heading to Vancouver will face,hydration will be a key issue in the cold conditions, according to English Institute of Sport Performance Nutritionist Dr Kevin Currell: “The suits many of the athletes wear, for example, generally retain a lot of their body heat so they therefore sweat and lose fluids, but if they don't feel thirsty it can be a struggle to keep them hydrated”. “For the speed skaters,who produce a high level of lactates, they may often not feel able to take on more fluids after a tough training session or competition, so again strategies need to be in place to keep their hydration levels up” he adds.