The Energy Drink Blog

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.

There has been much research and news about tea as of late. Claims that state drinking tea will help cure a laundry list of ailments can be found everywhere, so what exactly is it about tea that makes it a great ingredient in everything from shampoos to an energy drink key ingredient.

Discovered nearly 5,000 years ago, there are many types of tea that are popular for drinking. These include green, black, white, and oolong. Much attention has been given to green tea because of claims that green tea will increase metabolism to promote weight loss, as well as prevent heart disease and cancer.

Type II diabetes is also linked to tea consumption. It has been noted that people who consume green tea are able to control the effects of type II diabetes and blood sugar.

Also, related to health benefits, drinking hot tea before meals can help to suppress the appetite much the same as pure hoodia. This makes tea a popular drink for those who want to lose weight. These days there are many specialty teas with very exotic flavors. These options are competing with many morning commuters who have the option of either coffee or smoothies. Many places now offer smoothies or protein shakes to health conscious commuters.

Your friends talked you into it, so now what? Training for your first 5K may seem like a daunting and impossible task, but it can be and should be a fun and growth experience…a step in the right direction to better physical health.

Signing up for and participating in a 5K is a great first step to running a marathon. At only 3.1 miles, a 5K is an accomplishable goal for most people to achieve. It is also a great starter way to ease into the running world.

Running is not only a physical activity that does not necessarily require any fancy, expensive equipment, just a good pair of running shoes and breathable clothing; it is also a sport that can be done anywhere anytime. While some people may enter onto the running scene to lose weight, others do it for the stress relieving qualities and empowerment it provides.

Tips for 5K training beginners

1. Watch what you eat. While you are surely burning up calories, it is important to maintain healthy eating habits. Staying away from refined food products as well as sugars is important. Whole grain breads and pastas as well as protein shakes are easily digested and will give the body the energy and nourishment that it needs.
2. Start with a plan: Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t feel like the first time you lace up and head out the door you need to do the whole mileage non –stop. Start slow and pace your progress. This will help you build strength and endurance.
3. Fuel your body. Be sure that you eat. If you feel drained, try an energy drink. The best energy drinks will not disrupt your sleep patterns or cause you to crash after taking them.
4. Stay motivated. Usually 5K races are a fundraiser for a local charity or worthy cause. The fact that people are going to benefit from your participation should be motivation enough. Also downloading your favorite upbeat tunes should be enough to get spirits up and moving.