Health: Homeschool Students - Do Drink & Play!
For a homeschool student, maintaining a healthy body is just as important as maintaining a healthy mind. In fact, in a recent study, health professionals agreed that combining regular physical activity with a well balanced diet is necessary for optimal health and well-being. Healthcare professionals also agree that replacing fluid during exercise is crucial for both fitness and peak performance.
Many homeschool students are unaware of the particular importance of drinking plenty of liquid while exercising or participating in an athletic event. Adequate fluid intake and retention are vital for the homeschool athlete to maintain more than just performance. One of the most significant ways to avoid injury while exercising is to consume fluids before, during, and after the activity.
The following guidelines should be followed for homeschool students to promote health, maintain safety, and achieve optimum performance. Drink plenty of liquids and eat a nutritionally balanced diet during the 24 hours before the event, especially the meal just prior to the event. Drink at least 17 ounces of water, or sports beverage if the weather is warm, two hours before exercise to promote and maintain proper hydration. This time frame also allows for the excretion of excessive fluid. Homeschool students should replace fluids lost through sweating during athletic events or exercise by drinking fluid early, and often. The rate of consumption should match the degree of fluid lost through sweating.
Some of the easiest ways to guarantee that homeschool students consume an adequate amount of liquids are to make sure the liquid is cool, 59-72 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal, provide flavored water, and serve it in containers that are easy to drink out of without undue interruption to the routine. If exercise or athletic events last longer than one hour, carbohydrates and or electrolytes should be added to the water. The amount of these elements necessary to enhance the homeschool student's performance is between 4 to 8 percent, and may be sugars or starch, which help delay fatigue. Sodium may also be added at 0.5 to 0.7 grams per gallon of water to help re-hydrate the homeschool student and retain the fluids he or she ingests.
All homeschool students will benefit by exercising or participating in athletic programs that allow them to work up a healthy sweat. Physical activity is good for the body and the mind. Adequate fluid consumption will allow optimal achievement and enjoyment as well as prevent certain injuries. Drink up and play safe!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children's rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because "our current system of education has broken its promise..." Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.
Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education.