Is water alone enough to stay hydrated?
No. From a physiological perspective, our body contains no pure/plain water. Body water is, instead, a solution of electrolytes, proteins and glucose – each with a specific physiological function. To absorb water in the small intestines (where 95% of all water absorption takes place), a bit of sodium is needed in the water. During exercise, when blood flow is compromised to the gut because it is going to the muscles and skin, a bit of glucose and sucrose are needed to maximise fluid absorption.
What are the dangers of being dehydrated?
Fatigue and heat stress are the two biggest issues. Heat stress can occur even in cooler conditions if clothing creates a microclimate against the skin that does not allow heat to be released into the environment. This happens more so in swimming with wetsuits, but can also happen with some of the technical fabrics ‘wicking’ too much sweat away.
There are lots of hydration products on the market – what sets OSMO apart?
First and foremost, I designed Osmo as a physiologist – not as a dietician or as a sports marketing person. This is important because I look primarily at the stress exercise puts on the body and how to mitigate that stress.
The other factors are the sugars used. Glucose and sucrose are used in OSMO because two sugars are better than one for gastric emptying. More importantly, they do not increase osmotic pressure in the small intestines, unlike fructose and maltodextrin.
An increase in osmotic pressure signals the body to pull water into the intestines – the exact opposite of what you are trying to do when you drink a hydration drink.
I also do not include fillers, flow agents, or artificial colors/flavors – none of these are functional. For flavour, I use freeze-dried organic fruit powder – that’s it. Basically, OSMO is different because it is everything you need for fluid absorption without anything to contribute to gastro-intestinal (GI) distress.
OSMO has different products for men and women. Why?
Women are not small men. For instance, femalerunners are five times more likely to develop GI distress than male runners. Part of this is due to the effect estrogen and progesterone have on the intestinal cells; part of it is sugar metabolism: women have a harder time absorbing fructose than men, leading to bloating, diarrhea and general GI distress. So the composition of any hydration drink should be different for men and women.
For more information on Osmo, visit www.osmonutrition.com
To find a UK stockist, visit www.9point9.co.uk
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