How to Choose a Sports Drink
A great workout may get your heart pumping and blood flowing, however it may also leave you feeling drained and depleted of energy. With so many options on the market, which is the best choice for a sports drink?
Sports energy drinks are specially formulated to replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates that are lost as a result of vigorous exercise. It is recommended that 4-6 ounces of water be consumed for every 15-20 minutes of exercise. While it is important to replenish fluid that is lost as a result of exercise, it is important to replenish vitamins and minerals as well. For this reason many people opt for a sports drink.
While sports drinks provide vitamins and nutrients that regular water may be lacking or only contain trace amounts, it is important to choose a sports drink that does not contain a lot of sugar and carbohydrates. They You can even make your own sports drink at home by combining water, sugar, salt and flavorings such as citrus fruit or unsweetened drink mixes such as Kool-Aid together and refrigerating.
There has been a lot of debate over the “healthiness” of sports drinks. The sports drink industry reported sales of more than $7 billion in 2007. While advertised as a healthy drink, many sports drinks contain 20 grams of sugar or more and incredibly high amounts of sodium. It is these ingredients that people are concerned about because of the health problems like obesity and high blood pressure that they are linked to. Studies showed that students who drank 1 sports drink a day for a year gained between 10 and 15 pounds.
Not limited to sports drinks, sugar and calorie laden beverages are a sneaky source of calories that can ruin the diet many people adhere to. For people who are looking for a sweet, healthy drink, many people have found protein shakes a good alternative.
Tags: energy drinks, protein shakes, sports drink