Page 92 - DENG101_Communication Skills-I

Unit 8: News and Magazine Articles

2. Pick up the words from the article that are used to define or describe the good performance Notes
by the Indians at Asian Games.
3. Conclude the article in your own words.
4. Pickup information about performance of Indian boxers and athletes from the article, and
write a separate article using that information.

8.3 Articles on Health and Lifestyle

1. Sports Nutrition During Summer

Sveta Bhassin, Nutrition and Diet Consultant, May 26, 2011
Our body needs water for transporting nutrition, various chemical and enzymatic reactions taking
place in the body, lubrication of joints along with other proteins, maintaining body temperature,
protecting lungs, heart, eyes, intestines, etc.
Water makes up 40 to 70 per cent of an individual’s body mass, depending on the age, sex and

body composition. Sixty-five to 75 per cent of our muscle weight is water. A well-hydrated
individual always functions at a higher physiological and performance level than a dehydrated
one.

The heat and humidity can take its toll on the fittest of sports persons. In several international
sports events, there were many cases of severe dehydration and heat exhaustion needing
hospitalisation. An international squash player lost a kilo-and-a-half of body weight in a single
match and most of it was water. Many cricketers have lost concentration due to excessive sweating
and dehydration, resulting in injury.

Dr Dilip Nadkarni, orthopaedic surgeon and sports injury specialist, says, “The key to avoid
dehydration is to pre-hydrate. Do not wait for thirst to start drinking water, because thirst is a
sign of dehydration. Players who get muscle cramps, palpitation, dark urine, confusion on a hot

humid day need their fluid intake monitored and professionally advised. Apart from drinking
copious amount of fluid before, during and after the game, proper body conditioning and

flexibility training can help the muscles cope with the fl uid loss.”
Sveta Bhassin, nutrition and diet consultant, says, “During exercise a large amount of heat is
generated in the body. Environmental heat additionally stresses the body and increases the
body’s demand of water. A sedentary adult needs 2.5 litres of water in a normal atmospheric
temperature for basic survival. Physically active individuals in a hot climate may need up to fi ve
to 10 litres of water per day.”
For physically active people, the respiratory system releases 2-5ml each minute during a
strenuous exercise, depending upon the climatic conditions. Kinita S Kadakia, diet consultant,
says, “An individual’s water needs depend on many factors, including health, how active one is
and the type of sport.”

“Though no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about one’s body’s need for fl uids
will help one estimate how much water to drink each day. Water is lost through the breath,
perspiration and urine. One must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods
that contain water,” she adds
Our body can tolerate a drop in body temperature up to 10 degrees centigrade, but an increase
in body temperature up to 5 degrees centigrade can also lead to death. Statistics have shown that
over last 30 years football players who died during a competition or practice has been more than
100 times due to hyperthermia (increased body temperature).

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