A dancer is always sweating excessively due to rigorous training and hectic rehearsal schedules. It is normal for dancers to drink more water than normal due to heavy sweating; as water helps to control the dehydration level. But did you know that excessive water in your system can dilute your body fluids so much that they can leave you physically drained as a the sodium levels become life-threateningly low.
For a dancer and for people otherwise water may be the elixir of life, but it surely can send your health into a tailspin, even endangering your life, if you drink too much of it. So as a dancer it is better not to consume excess of water. While packaged water, juice and cola companies hard-sell their thirst-quenchers to you through TV and print advertisements, the truth is that drinking too much water can do you more harm than good. Honestly, I was not aware of this fact till I recently read that due to excessive water consumption, a social dancer in USA died of over hydration, which goes by the name of Exercise-Associated Hyponatraemia (EAH). When I read more and researched on it I realised that in simple terms, it means that you have drunk too much water and the excess has diluted your body fluids so much that the sodium levels have become low, causing cells to swell, leading to even death in some cases. That includes brain cells leading to loss of consciousness, seizures and even coma and death. For full time dancers who practise day in and day out for shows, performances, competition, workshops etc, this can be a particular hazard. With dance being now a rage and attraction for many upcoming creative people, practicing extra is normal, but one must resist the temptation to tank themselves up with too much water.
Water intoxication is always on the cards if you believe you have to “stay ahead of thirst” by drinking excessive quantities of fluids. To do so is not physiological. Drinking more water than your body need increases your total blood volume and pressures your kidneys into working overtime to filter excess water out of your circulatory system. It is however, incredibly rare for someone to die of dehydration in a temperate climate, not even sportsmen who sweat a great deal.
When tennis legends Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal play five gruelling sets of tennis in the baking sun, sweating profusely, how do manage to keep themselves going? They may sip at the end of every set change, but they certainly don’t gulp the water down. While dancing, you should balance how much water you drink to how much you are sweating out. All dancers should know that overconsumption of fluids, whether it’s water or sports drinks, can be fatal.
Water and fresh juices as fluid is better than consuming cola and other aerated drinks.
Five reasons to kick the cola
1. You will flash a prettier smile. The sugar and acid in soft drinks dissolves tooth enamel while the colouring in darker fizzy drinks leaves dark stains on teeth.
2. You will reduce your risk of heart disease. The high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in many soft drinks increases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
3. You will reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The phosphoric acid found in soft drinks can loosen a tight bolt, eat away metal, and leach calcium from the bones.
4. You will reduce your risk of diabetes. The connection between excess sugar consumption and type 2 diabetes is wellknown
5. You will stabilise blood sugar and energy levels. Simple sugars, the most harmful of which are HFCS, are carbs that cause a rapid energy spike followed by a sudden plummet. Adding caffeine, a cola essential, intensifies this roller-coaster effect.
So each time you pick up the water bottle or order a glass of fresh juice think if your body is really asking for it or is it just your heart who is demanding for it more.