Some wrestlers will thermally dehydrate 2 or more times without drinking enough water in between workouts. This multiplies problems brought on by dehydration. Excess protein is broken down by the liver and turned into fat, causing nitrogen levels in the blood to go up. This nitrogen must be filtered out of the body by the kidney with water. The effect is dehydration and reduced muscular energy levels.
Dehydration impairs physical and mental performance.
It can also lead to cotton mouth, light-headedness, loss of concentration, undue fatigue, heat stroke, and other problems. Understanding this information is a great start to learning more about your body as a wrestler. See ad on page 15. Editors Note - Article based on research conducted over the last 15 years.