Sport Drinks – More Effective Energy To Stay In The Game

When you choose a sport drink over any other of countless bottled beverages, you are probably make the choice for more efficient physical restoration and endurance, and for a boost of energy to get through a workout, a game, or just to help you face a demanding day.

Sports drinks in themselves are available from a range of manufacturers.  And for every brand of sport drink, there are a multitude of flavors, colors, formulas and buzz names that driven more by marketing hype than substance.  This only makes it harder to make an educated decision on which is actually best for you.

If your goal is just to stay hydrated, water will accomplish that just as well, if not better than most sport drinks; so don’t fall for any claims of “superior” or “enhanced” hydration.  Beverage companies love to use that as a selling point, but real athletes know that sport drinks are ultimately not about quenching thirst.  When it comes to simple hydration, no one drink will accomplish that any faster or better than another when compared pure water, filtered from the tap.  Sport drinks are effective for restoration of essentials and boosting energy.  Replacing essentials and refueling are the real factors that should play into your choice.

Here’s what to look out for:

Sugar – High sugar sport drinks are not your friends.  The problem is that the majority of household-name sport drinks are loaded with sugar; some even contain more than a 12oz. can soda.  Have you ever considered grabbing a can of soda for an extended workout or before or after a long practice?  If you have, you’re not doing yourself any favors.  That’s because high levels of sugar result in an accelerated sugar rush, quickly followed by a crash, which is the last thing any athlete or fitness-focused individual wants.  There are also the potential long-term ramifications of excess sugar, which include diabetes, weight gain and high blood pressure.  Excess sugar intake is a great way to turn your body against you.

Caffeine – Highly caffeinated sports drinks provide similar downfalls as high sugar sport drinks.  While caffeine will provide that accelerated energy boost that sugar will without the calories, it will also result in an impending and hard crash.   If you workout or play late in the day, a caffeinated sports drink can also easily prevent you from getting a good night’s rest, which is just as essential for staying active and fit.

Here’s what to look for:

Electrolytes – If you’re getting a decent workout, your body is generating heat.  Your body will sweat in response as a natural cooling function.  Sweating is imperative to prevent overheating and maintain body function, but it’s no so great for maintaining electrolytes.  Electrolytes are important to maintain basic cell function, and are present in most of your bodily fluids.  A good sport drink will contain sufficient electrolyte quantities in order to restore what is lost naturally through sweat.  Maintaining adequate electrolyte levels will enable better cell function, which is needed for muscle endurance, among other bodily capabilities.

Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are an essential energy source for your body.  Calories from carbohydrates fuel the body and are burnt off from activity.  Like electrolytes, carbohydrates must be maintained at adequate levels so the body can fuel basic function.  Serious athletes must restore carbohydrates before and/or after a workout for the sake of naturally maintaining and boosting energy, rather than the simulated method that results from excess sugar and caffeine.

Using this information when selecting a sport drink can help you make a better choice, and prevent you from relying on a product that can ultimately betray your performance and body.    Remember, the more educated you are as an athlete and a consumer, the more manufacturers will understand the importance of supplying a more effective sports drink that benefits you naturally.