Cultural differences in hydration practices among physically active individuals: a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Nutrition Science
• Cultural Studies

Background:

• Appropriate hydration is crucial for health, athletic performance, and recovery.
• Cultural factors such as religious beliefs, traditions, and beverage availability influence hydration practices globally.
• Examples include post-sport beer consumption (Western countries), sugarcane juice (India), and Ramadan fasting (Muslims).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how cultural hydration practices align with or diverge from evidence-based guidelines.
• To highlight the limited scientific evidence supporting many cultural hydration habits.
• To underscore the need for further research into the physiological effects of diverse hydration practices.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on hydration practices and cultural influences.
• Analysis of anecdotal and documented cultural hydration behaviors.
• Comparison of cultural practices with established hydration recommendations (e.g., American College of Sports Medicine - ACSM).

Main Results:

• Many cultural hydration practices, while common, lack robust scientific evidence regarding their efficacy in rehydration, performance, and recovery.
• Existing cultural habits may be inconsistent with current evidence-based hydration recommendations.
• Limited research exists on the physiological impacts of specific cultural hydration behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Cultural differences significantly impact hydration practices, often diverging from scientific recommendations.
• There is a critical need for more research to validate or refute the effects of cultural hydration practices on physiology, exercise performance, and recovery.
• Developing inclusive, evidence-based hydration guidelines requires understanding and investigating these cultural variations.