The Benefits of Spring Water for Exercise and Recovery

We all know that water is essential for the human body for a wide range of reasons but staying hydrated is particularly important for those of us who exercise a lot. Exercise causes the body to lose more water than usual so it’s important to replace the fluids that are lost.

But do you know all the important benefits of spring water for exercise and recovery?

Exercise And Hydration

When we exercise, we sweat more than usual in order to return our bodies to an optimal temperature and as sweat evaporates from our skin, heat is removed but body fluid is also lost.

Drinking fluid during exercise helps to replace this lost fluid, reduce the risk of dehydration and maintain performance levels – indeed “the general rule is: if you’re sweating, you need to be drinking fluids” (betterhealth.vic.gov.au).

And while there are plenty of ways we can access our water, spring water is widely considered to be one of the better options due to its key minerals and trace elements – key benefits of spring water for exercise and recovery.

What Are The Key Minerals and Trace Elements Found In Spring Water?

The typical minerals found in spring water are magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium along with some trace amounts of iron and zinc. All minerals in water are in their ionic form which means they are more easily absorbed than minerals in foods and supplements.

Spring water, depending on the source, tends to be highest in the minerals potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium and the World Health Organisation even suggests that health challenges such as heart disease and osteoporosis could be reduced with the greater consumption of magnesium and calcium-rich water.

Let’s take a look in more detail at each key mineral…

1. Calcium

Spring water is a natural source of calcium – an essential mineral for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Adequate calcium intake also supports muscle function and nerve transmission and is particularly important for athletes as it helps maintain bone density and prevents stress fractures.

2. Magnesium

Another important mineral found in spring water is magnesium which plays a crucial role in muscle and nerve function as well as energy metabolism as it is “needed for muscles and nerves to work properly and to keep blood sugar and blood pressure at the right level” (healthdirect.gov.au).

3. Potassium

Spring water is also rich in potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance in the body and supports muscle and nerve function. Potassium is particularly important for athletes as it helps prevent muscle cramps and supports heart health.

4. Sodium

Spring water contains sodium, an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance in the body and supports nerve and muscle function. Sodium is particularly important for athletes as it helps maintain hydration and prevent muscle cramps.

How Spring Water Can Benefit Exercise And Recovery

Dehydration occurs when the water content in the body is too low which can be accelerated when taking part in intensive periods of exercise.

However this can generally be easily remedied by increasing your fluid intake and spring water is a great choice to do this for a number of reasons and is great for helping to…

• Keep you hydrated
• Oxygenate your blood
• Boost your immune system
• Limit weight gain
• Keep you active

What’s more, according to a lot of people, it’s the best tasting water there is and we couldn’t agree more on that here at Pacific Springs!

So whenever you’re planning any physical activities, reach for your water bottle too and have a chat to us about how a spring water cooler can help keep you hydrated and fuel your exercise!