Water vs. Sports Drinks
We all know that it’s important to stay hydrated. When exercising, the human body can lose quite a lot of water through sweat. This must be replaced in order to maintain the body’s health. The question is, what should we be replacing it with?
Today, hundreds of colorful, flavorful sports drinks line the refrigerated shelves of our grocery stores and convenience stores. Sure, they’re attractive and tasty and there are certainly a lot to choose from, but do you really need any of them to enhance your workout?
The answer depends.
When it comes to hydration, you won’t find many people who will argue that water is a poor choice. Clean water is the best drink for hydration before, during and after physical activity. So, if you’re doing an easy jog or playing a leisurely game of basketball, there’s a good chance you won’t be needing a sports drink. However, if you’re working out longer than 60 minutes — or for less time, but very intensely — simple H2O might not cut it.
We all know that water can be dull and, at times, we might not want to drink as much as our body needs. While water works better at fluid replacement, sports drinks are often much more appealing to our palates. For harder or longer workouts, it’s important to get enough fluid, and sports drinks and flavored water help you keep on drinking.So, those who enjoy the taste of sports drinks may drink more sports drink than they would water, thus leading to better hydration. When opting for sports drinks, as with anything, it’s important to always read the label. Sip with caution! Certain brands contain up to 125 calories per bottle. This could be close to the amount you just burned!
Many sports drinks also contain electrolytes and carbohydrates. While those exercising for short periods of time won’t need to replace any electrolytes, athletes exercising for a period of 60 minutes or more on a routine basis can definitely benefit from this. In addition, carbs provide energy to the body and the longer the workout, the more carbs are needed!
