As a hockey player you know the importance of water consumption prior and during playing when the opportunity avails itself to take a drink. However how typical is it that your water bottle is filled with water straight from the dressing room tap or similar? Well you might say that water is water and tap water at the temperature it comes out is sufficient. This blog presents a new piece of research to you that might change your view.
Did you know that drinking cold water prior and during your game can keep your body temperature cooler for longer, decreasing heat-related stress and fatigue, according to a new study published in The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition [jissn.com].
Researchers at Athletes’ Performance, including Amanda Carlson-Phillips, director of performance nutrition and research, and Performance Nutritionist Danielle LaFata, studied the impact of cold water on body temperature during exercise. The study included 45 men who completed two 60-minute training sessions, which were followed by training tests including a broad jump test and a bicycle exhaustion test. During training, they drank either cold water from a Thermos® stainless steel water bottle with vacuum insulation technology or room temperature water. Core temperature was measured every 15 minutes during training.
They found that when the men drank cold water (4.4ºC), the rise in body temperature was delayed by at least 30 minutes compared to 15 minutes when they drank room temperature water (22.22ºC). Researchers also found that 49 percent of the men performed better in the broad jump and 51 percent performed better in the bicycle exhaustion test when they drank cold water.
To keep water at the recommended 4.4ºC during your hockey game or training, start with cold water from the refrigerator (or tap water with ice) and keep it cold in a hydration bottle with vacuum insulation technology, which will keep drinks cold for up to 12 hours. Alternatively team managers should have an esky with ice where your drink bottle can be stored when not in use.
Source: Athletes Performance, Amanda Carlson-Phillips
