Soccer Hydration: Tips to Improve Performance and Recovery
Along with nutrition, proper hydration is important for any soccer player who is looking to optimize their performance on the field and recovery off it. For any player no matter the age or level, from youth to the professionals, hydration is crucial before, during, and after training sessions or games.
Soccer players are constantly looking for the next training gear, trend, or gadget, to help them improve their performance and sometimes don’t realize that improving the basics of performance such as training properly, nutrition, sleep, and of course hydration, are the key to becoming a better player.
In this blog, I will explain the importance of hydration and how to properly hydrate as a soccer player.
The Importance of Hydration for Soccer Players
Hydration plays a huge role in a soccer player’s performance and recovery, because of its relation with the mitochondria and due to the fact that the human body is made up of 60% water. Here are some of the many benefits of maintaining proper hydration levels.
Aids in Physiological Functions
Water is a fundamental component of various physiological functions in our bodies, including electrolyte balance, joint lubrication, fluid balance, and metabolic reactions. Water plays a huge role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as supporting the detoxification process to help prevent the buildup of toxins in the body.
Better body temperature control
Hydration also affects thermoregulation because it promotes sweating, which helps cool you down during physical activity. Also, adequate fluid intake prevents the risk of overheating and heat-related illnesses while contributing to sustained energy levels.
Increase endurance:
Proper hydration is a critical factor in enhancing endurance for soccer players. The more hydrated a player is, the better physical and mental performance they will have.
Faster recovery:
Hydration also plays a huge role in recovery because proper fluid intake helps deliver essential nutrients to the muscles and fascia of your body, which is what promotes faster recovery.
Nerve Function:
Proper hydration is also linked with better nerve signaling and cognitive function. Water is a good conductor of electricity so being hydrated allows your nerve signals to travel better and faster.
The Fourth Phase of Water (also known as Exclusion Zone or EZ Water) was discovered by Dr. Gerald Pollock
Proper Hydration Myths
Before I share with you some hydration tips, it is important to discuss some common hydration myths that give aspiring soccer players a false perception of what real hydration.
Water is Hydrating: False
Drinking a lot of water may sound like the most logical way to stay hydrated since our body is mainly made of water, but that is not the case. As odd as this sounds, you cannot expect to drink a lot of water and become hydrated.
Have you ever experienced the feeling of being thirsty and drinking a ton of water, yet no matter how much water you drink, you still feel thirsty? This is because water itself does not hydrate you; it is the minerals, or electrolytes, inside the water that help your body feel hydrated, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Think of these minerals, or electrolytes, as spark plugs. When you drink them, they help “light up” your body by taking care of essential physiological processes and making sure they’re carried out correctly. If you drink water with no electrolytes, such as tap or distilled water, you are diluting your cells, meaning you will get more water into the cell, but no electrolytes.
All Water is the same: False
When talking about water, I also have to discuss the different phases of water. The water inside living humans is unlike the three phases most people are familiar with solid, liquid, and gas.
This water inside living organisms, living foods, and “living” bodies of water, is called the Fourth Phase of Water (also known as Exclusion Zone water (EZ) or structured water), which means it is not any of the other three phases.
EZ water is more like a liquid gel or crystal found around the surfaces of hydrophilic, water-attracting, substances, like certain molecules in our living tissues. This unique water also helps create a battery-like electrical system in the body that can give you energy, act as a messaging system, and help keep you hydrated.
This topic should be taught in schools and to the general public because it is mind blowing once you understand that water has a unique Fourth Phase that only becomes structured inside living organisms like us. When you look at this fourth phase or structured water under a microscope it is arranged in honeycomb like patterns, showing the amazing patterns found throughout nature.
When you look at regular liquid water under a microscope all of the molecules are scattered around and they are not arranged in a structured way.
Mainstream Sports Drinks are Good for You: False
Mainstream sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade are commonly marketed as good hydration drinks and they even have deals with some of the best players in the world. However, aspiring players must realize that these ads are marketing gimmicks.
Most of the time, these companies, which do not have your health’s best interests at heart, pay these elite players so much money to be part of their ads to make it seem like they’re associated with their products. Do not fall for these tricks.
While sports drinks do contain some electrolytes, they also have a lot of things your body does not want or need such as a high sugar content, artificial ingredients, and they can get pricey over time. Sports drinks are basically soda with added electrolytes to make it seem like it is good for you.
Hydration Strategies and Tips
Now that you are more familiar with water and hydration let’s discuss good hydration practices.
Foods to Consume to Maintain Proper Hydration Status
As a footballer, you want to consume food that contains the same structured water, or Fourth Phase of water, that is found inside your cells. The types of foods and drinks that contain EZ water or structured water are raw and “alive” foods like
- Fresh local fruits
- vegetable juices
- spring water
- raw meats and fish
- raw eggs
- raw dairy
- RAW Farm is an awesome brand
- raw honey
These foods should be a priority, and it might sound odd to suggest eating foods to stay hydrated, instead of drinking fluids, but remember that it is not just the water that hydrates; it’s the type of water you drink and its electrolyte content that really matters. As you incorporate more of these healthy, structured foods and snacks into your daily routines, you will find that you will be more hydrated without having to drink as much water because these foods already have the water and everything else necessary to keep you hydrated.
For example, watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges are full of water, which is why you feel refreshed after eating fruit. I’m currently at the point where, daily, I consume raw eggs, raw fish, raw honey, raw dairy, vegetable juices, fruits, and spring water, but have not eaten raw meat yet, and I feel amazing and hydrated all day long.
Do your own research about the benefits of eating raw foods and if you’re ready you can try it, but it is important to make sure you get high-quality foods if you plan to eat them raw. The food industry makes it seem like these foods are bad for you, but these foods are the only real foods left.
About 95% of food in most grocery stores did not even exist 200 years ago which is why it makes sense to eat foods that have been around the longest. The easiest way to start is with raw eggs, like Rocky, and with raw fish, like sushi. Also fruits and vegetable juices are essential.
Water Sourcing and Storage
Another thing to mention is to avoid tap water, avoid all plastic water bottles, and ideally, only drink natural spring water stored in a glass. This may sound very extra, but sourcing and storing your water is crucial.
How Much Water to Drink to Properly Hydrate
Generally, it is hard to suggest how much water to drink daily, and some water intake recommendations may not work because hydration will vary from person to person depending on an individual’s mitochondrial function and how much hydration the food they consume provides.
As I mentioned before, the more you learn how to hydrate yourself properly, and the more you experience the benefits of hydrating with foods and improving your mitochondrial function, the better you will intuitively know how much water your body wants. Do your best to drink as much water as you feel your body needs.
As a rule of thumb, eat healthy, eat foods that hydrate, and drink natural spring water when you are thirsty.
Best Sports Drink Alternatives
Instead of consuming a sugary sports drink loaded with artificial ingredients and preservatives, aspiring soccer players should first focus on fixing their nutrition, by eating foods that contain structured water, and improve their mitochondria function, which is best done by living a natural lifestyle.
Once you have done this, it is time to consider electrolyte supplements or alternatives to sports drinks, which can aid in hydration before, during, and after a training session or game.
Homemade Electrolyte Drink
Creating your own electrolyte drink allows you to control the ingredients and make the drink exactly how you like it.
Here’s a simple ingredients list and recipe for a homemade electrolyte drink:
- Coconut water
- Spring water
- Lime Juice
- sea salt
- raw honey or maple syrup
Instructions:
- Mix the spring water, coconut water, sea salt, and lemon in a pitcher.
- Stir well until the salt and ingredients are mixed and fully dissolved.
- Add the honey or maple syrup and stir until it’s evenly distributed.
This is just a starter recipe, so feel free to customize it if you want, and after you are done, you can also fill the drink with fruits such as oranges, strawberries, cucumbers, or anything else.
Redmond Relyte
Investing in a good electrolyte supplement can be beneficial if you are looking for a faster but healthier alternative to sports drinks compared to making your own drink. This Re-Lyte Hydration Powder, made with real Redmond Sea Salt, is the best natural electrolyte powder mix I have tried.
They have a variety of flavors, so you can find one that you like best, and they also have flavorless electrolytes, which will be the cleanest source of electrolytes. Some people may find it too salty, but I think it tastes great.
Summary
To summarize, proper hydration is important for all soccer players, from youth players all the way up to elite professional soccer players. Proper hydration goes along with proper sports nutrition and these are two of the most important aspects to “train” and improve daily, along with sleep and athletic training, for optimal performance on the field and for faster recovery off the field.
In this blog, I covered everything you need to know about the importance of hydration. I broke down some hydration myths, and provided you with hydration tips that you can start using today. Remember, to improve your chances of making your soccer dreams a reality you have to take care of every aspect of your life that affects performance and this includes hydration levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the effects of dehydration?
Dehydration, even mild dehydration has a lot of negative effects such as
- Decreased skill performance
- Decreased mental and physical performance
- Decreased energy levels
- Increase in muscle cramps due to no electrolyte and fluid replacement
How do you check pre-game hydration status?
To check pre game hydration status you have to check your urine color. If your urine is dark yellow that mostly means you are dehydrated and if it’s clear that means you are more likely hydrated. Certain foods and supplements can cause your urine color to change, even if you are not dehydrated, so it is important to be aware of that.
What should a soccer player diet consist of?
A soccer player’s diet should consist of local fruits and vegetables, high quality carbs, healthy fats, high quality protein, spring water, raw honey, and raw dairy if you can tolerate it. Check out this blog to find out what to eat before a soccer game.
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
Proper hydration is just one of the keys to optimal performance and improving your soccer skills. Another way to begin improving your soccer skills right now is by checking out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.
