HUNTINGTON -- Properly hydrating during a workout can depend on what type of workout you are engaged in.

According to LifeFitness.com, hydration before, during and after exercise is crucial and is often affected by the physical activity.

In strength training, every time your muscles contract, they release toxins that are stored in the tissue in your bloodstream causing your body to become dehydrated. Dehydration leads to muscle fatigue and cramping, exhaustion and loss of coordination. To prevent dehydration, try a properly-formulated sport drink to help replenish your carbohydrates and electrolytes to healthy levels, which is important for maintaining fluid balance, and helping with muscle contractions and energy levels as you exercise.

For cardio, if your cardio sessions last 60 to 90 minutes and are at a high intensity level, you should consider a sports drink during your workout that includes carbohydrates and electrolytes. For a moderate intensity workout that causes you to work up a sweat and lasts less than 60 minutes, water can usually do the trick for fluid replacement. You should drink 4 to 6 ounces of water for every 15 minutes of moderate activity.

In a group cycling class such as spinning, it's not always a ride through a virtual park. Often times, you leave drenched in sweat. But water isn't the only thing your body loses when you sweat. Electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride are lost in sweat as well.

Water may be sufficient after light exercise, but you may be surprised to know that drinking plain water after high-intensity or long duration exercise is not always effective for rehydration. For proper hydration levels to be restored, water needs to be consumed with food containing adequate amounts of sodium such as nuts, pretzels, trail mixes or energy bars.

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