Hydration and sports nutrition specialist Nuun notes that proper hydration is crucial to success in an endurance event and most athletes understand this importance. Still, it’s difficult to determine proper hydration levels, and both dehydration and over hydration can have a negative effect on athletic performance.
With this in mind, Nuun’s brand new ‘revolutionary three-part hydration testing protocol’, aims to ensure that athletes no longer have to guess how well they are hydrated. Proper hydration management may now be seamlessly integrated into training and racing.
“Educating athletes is a top priority for us,” said the test’s developer, Vishal Patel, a Certified Nutritionist and Nuun’s Education and Innovations leader. “When an athlete’s hydration plan is perfectly dialled, he or she is able to fully maximize his or her potential.”
The hydration test protocol is a combination of three tests: a sweat test, a urine analysis and a body weight percentage test. All three combined allow the athlete to understand exactly how many ounces of fluid along with the proper amount of electrolytes to consume and how well carbohydrates, fats, lipids and water are being absorbed into the body.
Both the sweat test and urine test may be performed using easy-to-follow downloadable PDFs with step-by-step test instructions and charts (for urine analysis). Nuun notes that testing is simple and result interpretation is easy.
>>> Nuun Hydration Sweat Test
>>> Nuun Hydration Urine Test
The body weight percentage test is performed through a specialized scale that Nuun will have on site at events. It measures the water volume of the body as a percentage of total body mass. Based on the results Nuun can advise the athlete how well he or she is hydrated.
The program rolls out in Kailua- Kona, Hawaii at the IRONMAN World Championships, arguably one of the most challenging athletic events in the world.
“The climate in Hawaii combined with the concentration of world-stage athletic talent makes Kona the perfect launching ground,” said Nuun President and CEO, Kevin Rutherford. “We are eager to bring this simple and important program into the endurance sports arena.”
There, alongside Endurance Conspiracy at the Endurance Maximus retail store on 8-11 October, athletes can sample Nuun and undergo the hydration test. Throughout 2015, Nuun will offer the same tests at a wide range of additional endurance events across the US.
Nuun and Company, based in Seattle, Washington, is a pioneer of electrolyte enhanced drink tablets that turn water into an ‘optimally balanced sports drink without the sugars and plastic waste of traditional sports drinks.’ Founded in 2004, Nuun is used by some of the world’s best athletes and enthusiasts in running, cycling, triathlon, golf, outdoor and general fitness.
Ten years later, Nuun Active Hydration remains ‘the number 1 selling sports drink product in bike, run, outdoor specialty, and outdoor chain stores.’ Nuun is sold in over 5,000 outlets in the US and available in over 30 countries.
