How to Choose the Best Sports Drink | Food Network Healthy Food: Recipes, Ideas and Food News
It sounds crazy, but for many people athlete, choosing the best sports drink is a lot more confusing than just grabbing a glass of Gatorade. With confusing ingredient lists, conflicting recommendations, and so many products on the market, it can be nearly impossible to figure out which one to choose from. Here’s a breakdown of these drinks and how to choose the right sports drink for you well-being demand.
Sports drinks are often used for (wait), sports. They are designed to help replenish what is lost during physical activity, usually fluids, Electrolytes and calories. The most common electrolytes found in sports drinks include sodium, chloride, and potassium (the most common electrolytes lost in sweat). The body also loses magnesium, calcium and even iron, but in smaller amounts.
Sports drinks designed for positive individual and those that need to replace lost sweat. These are usually for people who exercise, but can also be for people who work in hot and humid environments.
The first commercial sports drink, Gatorade, was created in the 1960s to help provide water for the Florida Gators football team. Since this invention, there has been an endless parade of bottles and powders, all claiming to be the ultimate hydration drink for exercise. Most sports drinks provide some combination of fluids and electrolytes, and some add calories from sugar, but they’re not one-size-fits-all. Let’s break down these sports drink ingredients and explain which ones are the most important.
Sugar: Sugar is an easily digestible fuel. Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade contains sugar for one important reason: to provide the energy needed to sustain performance over long periods of time. Therefore, reach for sports drinks that contain calories before and during activity.
If you’re eating a meal or snack that provides carbs and calories from other sources, you might consider opting for a calorie-free sports drink that provides only fluids and electrolytes. These “no” and “diet” sports drinks use artificial sweeteners for flavor and some can cause stomach upset, so be aware and switch to another product if need.
Salt: Some sweaters lose more sodium in sweat than others, and it’s not always the person with the highest sweat rate that loses the most sodium. If you feel tired during your workout even after you’ve eaten and/or are prone to cramping, consider sports drinks with added sodium such as: Children’s sports or Gatorlyte Quick Hydration.
Potassium: The second most abundant electrolyte lost in sweat is potassium and often, if you can rule out water and sodium as the culprits for hydration problems, then potassium should be your focus. Since many sports drinks don’t provide an ample amount of potassium, look for ones made with coconut water as a base as it is a great source of potassium such as: Armor.
The body needs daily water intake for many physical processes including digestion, temperature regulation, pH balance, immune function, muscle health and circulation. The kidneys and other organs help regulate the amount of water in and out of the body. As additional water is lost from perspiration, the need for replacement increases. Excluding exercise, to help maintain health and water intake, the body needs an average of 9 cups a day for women and 13 cups a day for men – additional fluids come from whole foods. foods we eat, including foods with a high water content like fruits and vegetables. .
Some people tout chocolate milk as the ultimate “sports drink,” but the truth is, it’s different. Chocolate milk and sports drinks have similarities such as providing fluids, carbs and electrolytes, but the protein content is better for the body after a workout. Not surprisingly, a study published in 2019 determined that chocolate milk was beneficial for strength training in high school athletes. For post-exercise recovery, chocolate milk may be a single choice for essential protein, but is not a substitute for sports drinks.
Bottom line: Sports drinks vary.
Finding the right one for you can take some testing. Check the labels on all products to assess the carbohydrate, sodium, and potassium content and choose the most suitable for your workout and fueling routine.
*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independently registered dietitian.