{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "@id": "https://scienceinsport.com/blogs/nutrition/hydration-electrolytes-athletes#faq",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Do athletes need electrolytes or just water?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Water is fine for shorter, cooler sessions, but when sweat losses are high, replacing sodium alongside fluid matters. Sweat contains electrolytes, particularly sodium, and replacing only water can disrupt fluid balance on long or hot sessions."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How much should athletes drink during exercise?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Match your fluid intake to your losses and the conditions, drinking steadily to a comfortable state rather than forcing down large volumes. Both under-drinking and over-drinking cause problems, so the aim is the sensible middle, adjusted to how much you sweat."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Why does sodium matter for hydration?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Sodium is the key electrolyte lost in sweat, and when losses are high, replacing only water can disrupt your fluid balance. Replacing sodium alongside fluid, particularly on long or hot sessions, supports proper hydration in a way water alone cannot always achieve."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Can you drink too much water when exercising?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Yes. Over-drinking, taking on far more fluid than you lose, can dilute your body's sodium and cause its own problems. The old advice to drink as much as possible is misguided; match your intake to your losses and the conditions instead."
      }
    }
  ]
}