Should one drink water immediately after exercise? Is it beneficial for health or not?

Of course! For general health, especially before and after exercise, it is imperative to stay hydrated. Let's discuss the benefits of drinking water right after working out and whether this is a good idea.

Exercise and Hydration
When engaging in physical exercise, maintaining optimal performance and energy levels is contingent upon enough hydration. The following are some salient points:

1. Pre-Workout Hydration: You must begin hydrating well in advance of your exercise. Exercise performance might be hampered by dehydration. It's important to be properly hydrated throughout day, no matter when you want to work out2.

2. While Exercising: You should have 12–16 fluid ounces (about 1.5–2 cups) of water or a sports drink every 5–15 minutes while you work out. Consider refueling your electrolytes with potassium, magnesium, and 300–600 mg of salt each hour³ if your workout is longer than usual.

3. After Exercise: There is no one-size-fits-all prescription for hydration following exercise because sweat rates differ. But generally speaking, you should have at least 8 ounces (240 ml) of water within 30 minutes of working exercise. Drink more water until the color of your pee is pale yellow1.

 The Water Intake Timing
Although there's no secret to drinking water right after working out, it's important to maintain your hydration levels all day. Sweating aids in controlling body temperature, but in order to avoid being too hot, we must replace lost fluids. Hence, sure, you should hydrate yourself with water after working out, but keep in mind that this is important all day long1.

Preventing Unnecessary Fluid Buildup
Surprisingly, there may be drawbacks to consuming a lot of water just after working out. An overabundance of fluid in the digestive system might hinder diaphragmatic function, which can impair breathing and slow down the healing process after extended anaerobic exercise.