Sports drinks can help athletes recover faster and train longer, but many versions are unhealthy due to high calories and sugar. The original sports drink was a mixture of water, molasses, and vinegar. Some sports drinks contain questionable ingredients like caffeine and supplements. Check the calorie content and serving size before buying. Sports drinks should be used to prevent dehydration and fatigue. Plain water is sufficient for moderate workouts. Most sports drinks cost $2-$4 per bottle.
Sports drinks have become popular drinks among athletes and those on the go constantly. Designed to replenish the body with electrolytes and nutrition, as well as keep it hydrated, a sports drink can help you recover from activity faster and train longer. However, the sports drink market sports many versions that are unhealthy for consumers, which are usually extremely high in calories and sugar.
The original sports drink is hard to pin down, as the concept has been around for many centuries. The workers and ranchers of North America used to drink a mixture of water, molasses and vinegar to invigorate themselves during the harvest. The goal of sports drinks is to provide water and give the body additional minerals that can help your muscles, such as potassium. Sugar is also necessary, not for the taste but rather for the beneficial effect it has on muscles and stamina.
While some sports drinks only have known minerals and added ingredients, others add a host of questionable ingredients. Some major sports drink brands will add a huge dose of caffeine, which can make you jittery and cause nausea or vomiting in some people during intense workouts. Others add supplements that have an uncertain effect, such as chromium, which may or may not help your body.
Before buying a sports drink, look closely at the calorie content on the label. Be sure to check the serving size too, as some bottles can hold up to 3 servings of the drink. If you’re trying to lose weight, drinking a sugary sports drink can be counterproductive, even if you’re exercising to burn calories. Even if your drink only has 100 calories, imagine how long you’ll need to stay on the treadmill to work above your usual workout.
Most sports drinks come in a variety of flavors, from lemon and lime and orange to a somewhat unidentifiable blue. Rather than reminiscent of juice, these flavors mostly taste like fruit punch or similar artificially flavored drinks. Due to the sodium in most sports drinks, additional flavoring can be used to cover the salty taste. Even so, some drinks have a noticeable salty taste.
Some experts suggest that sports drinks should be used to prevent rather than treat dehydration and fatigue. Try drinking about a quarter of the bottle before starting your workout, and drink more every 15 to 20 minutes. Don’t wait until you’re parched or exhausted to start drinking, it’s an excellent way to end up passing out or overexerting yourself.
There are dozens of sports drinks to choose from, available at grocery stores and many fitness centers. Most range in price from $2-$4 US Dollars (USD) per bottle, but consider buying in bulk if you exercise frequently. Sports drinks are often recommended for those doing vigorous or resistance exercise; for moderate workouts, plain water will likely give you the right amount of hydration, and it has no calories or sugar.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
