Hi ladies (and any inquisitive gentlemen) in the world of women’s riding! My name is Julie, and I will be giving you Tidbits of information and motivation related to nutrition that will hopefully help with riding and just life in general. A little bit about me; I am a hard-working mother of two, and I have been in the field of nutrition since 2000, working in the industry and continuing education in the Foods and Nutrition Sciences at San Diego State University. I have a passion for most things in life that many do not know about, along with the passions that some do know. My passion for riding stemmed from an internal need of freedom and fun. I think the more the men in my family (which was practically everyone) pushed me away from danger, the more I turned towards it. Typical rebellious “only female” in the family response I suppose.
Another close passion in my life came to me through work experience and a situation in my life that made nutrition stand up front and center in my world. My oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD. There were a number of solutions given to solve this issue, and a prescription was my last choice so we followed a strict diet for some time. Down the road, the diagnosis ended up being wrong, but it gave me a strong need to help not only my family, but others out there that need assistance with nutrition and health in general. I have been a part of GirlClutch since it has started and I am delighted to be able to share my knowledge with all of you now.
Today, I am just going to throw out a quick “Remember To Hydrate!!!” One of the most neglected items in the world of nutrition every single day is fluid replacement. The most obvious form of fluid replacement is….Water!! Our bodies are about 60% water, and every system in our body relies on water. It is in our foods that we consume each and every day, but most people are still not getting an adequate amount to keep them hydrated. The amount of fluid intake per day is based on an individual’s lifestyle, depending on how active you are or are not. Relatively, women should be getting 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day so besides what we consume in our diets every day, make sure to fill up those water bottles, bring extra with you, and if water is just too “plain” for you, add a slice of lemon or look for a bottle of carbonated water to give you a little fizz. Only you can make that commitment, and it is so easy to do. You got this one!!
I wanted to start off the New Year with this Tidbit of nutritional advice because I know many of you have decided to get back into shape, and since it is a colder time of the year, we don’t always think to replenish our fluids. For those of you who ride more aggressively and exercise more often, remember to replace fluids with energy drinks that contain electrolytes as well. Too much water without electrolytes can cause a toxicity that can cause many complications so make sure to get your balance Mz. Athletes!
I look forward to sharing Tidbits of info with you all from here on out. If anyone has any specific questions, feel free to ask, and I will make note to answer as many questions as possible in future Tidbits. Prevention is the best solution in taking care of ourselves!! Cheers to everyone who is looking and actively participating in her/his own nutritional health.
~Jules
