Hydration: Answered

While it may seem like an afterthought, staying properly hydrated during exercise can make all the difference between a productive workout and a potentially dangerous one. Whether you’re cycling the dirty muddy terrain of Kansas, training for this year’s Marine Corps Marathon in Virginia, or seeking an adventurous day outdoors with your friends and family, proper hydration is essential for maintaining energy, optimizing performance, and supporting recovery.

When we exercise, our bodies produce heat and sweat to regulate our temperature, which leads to a loss of fluids and electrolytes. If these fluids and electrolytes are not replaced, dehydration can occur, resulting in impaired performance, fatigue, and even heat-related illnesses.  And while drinking water is crucial, it’s also important to replenish electrolytes—minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium—lost during sweat. These electrolytes help maintain fluid balance, regulate muscle contractions, and ensure proper nerve function.

When exercising intensely, our bodies also need carbohydrates to refuel our glycogen stores and keep our energy tanks topped off.  Insert sports drinks here: a refreshing way to rehydrate, fuel up, and keep your electrolytes in check.  But not all hydration drinks are the same, many popular electrolyte drinks are loaded with artificial ingredients, sweeteners, and food dyes. That’s why UnTapped created Mapleaid – the all natural hydration mix made to keep you moving for miles and miles.  

Not All Hydration is Created Equal

UnTapped Mapleaid offers a simple ingredient natural hydration solution to rehydrate your body efficiently by focusing on:

• Naturally occurring magnesium, potassium, calcium, and more from pure Vermont maple syrup 
• Sodium from the added sea salt (no citric acid here!)
• Four ingredient or less recipes offer a simple way to deliver quick fuel to keep you moving seamlessly. 
• No artificial flavoring, colors, or other unnecessary additives commonly found in many sports drinks.  

Maple syrup is also a water soluble carbohydrate source that is low on the glycemic index, making it easy for our bodies to break down and digest particularly when under intense stress from physical exertion.  With simple ingredients you know and can pronounce, you can feel at ease fueling naturally.

When To Hydrate

Hydration is something that should begin well before an athletic event, and relatively consistent throughout your day-to-day agenda to keep your body feeling its best.

• Before Exercise: Start hydrating in advance. Before your event, sipping on a bottle of Mapleaid (12 oz, 20g carbs) the hour prior will help keep your electrolyte levels balanced leading up to your activity.
  
• During Exercise: Sip a combination of water and drink mix throughout your workout. Depending on the intensity and duration of your workout, increase as needed to replenish fluid and electrolyte loss from sweating.
  
• After Exercise: A full serving of Mapleaid after your workout will deliver both carbohydrates for muscle recovery and electrolyte replacement.

For more information on how to fuel with UnTapped, read our suggested Fueling Guide HERE.