What Is Hydration?

Up to 60% of the human body is comprised of water. Achieving a state of proper hydration is the act of consuming enough fluid so that the human body can function optimally. Water plays a role in every cell in your body and is responsible for regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, forming saliva, transporting nutrients, flushing waste, and absorbing shock for our brain and spinal cord.

How Hydration Affects On-Court Performance

Proper hydration is a total game changer for any sport. If an athlete enters practice or competition not properly hydrated, he or she may experience fatigue, headaches, muscle cramping, poor concentration, confusion and an overall decline in cognitive function. How could any athlete perform their very best when experiencing these symptoms — especially in tennis, where focus, decision-making, and consistency from point to point matter?

Using Sports Nutrition to Impact Hydration

Believe it or not, a whole food nutrition approach is one of the best ways to hydrate your body without even thinking. By choosing water-based foods such as fruits and vegetables and water constituted foods such as soups and oatmeal, a young athlete can hydrate by means of food throughout the entire day!