With water and beverage companies such as the Coca-Cola Company owning the most recognized brands of water, is there any validity to the body needing water. Since the body is comprised of more than 50 percent of water, our bodies require water to function properly. During excessive heat and exercise, the body emits water via perspiration.

Despite the belief that water is needed during fitness in heated climates, recent research portrays a different perspective. According to Dr. Lewis Maharam, dehydration is the result of being in a desert for an extended period of time. Contrary to runner’s beliefs, the impact of hydration is vastly misunderstood. During a running race, dehydration is not a significant issue. In the opinion of medical experts, there is not any significant scientific evidence which supports the concept that dehydration imposes severe danger for runners.

Although the body is comprised of water needed to make muscles and bodily physiological functions to operate, dehydration does not transpire during the distance of a race. Overall, dehydration represents that the body is void of adequate water and fluids. Even though the body loses fluids from physical activity such as running, most individual do not run long enough for dehydration to be an impending danger.

Alternatively, an opposite effect of dehydration may occur. For instance, when runners consume too many fluids, it causes a condition referred to as hyponatremia. The health effect transpires when the serum salt level is lower than a specific number in the blood. The symptoms of hyponatremia include:

• Dizziness
• Faintness
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

The detrimental aspect of hyponatremia is how it can compel a seizure which swells the brain leading to pulmonary edema.