Sports Drinks or Water?
Plain water, which is easily absorbed by the body, not only is perfectly adequate but is the best beverage to drink. Leading sports physiologists have found that the difference between sports drinks and plain water is meaningful only to people who push themselves to the activity level of elitist, dedicated athletes. Those who train or participate in events for four hours or more, may benefit from drinking a diluted sports drink. It is the water we need most. Replenishing the body’s electrolytes, which is a major selling point of sports drinks, is less important than the ads would have you believe. It is true that sodium, which helps regulate the body’s fluid balance and plays a role in muscle contraction, is lost in sweat. Except, however, for athletes who compete in endurance events, exercisers needn’t worry about running short on sodium or potassium. Both of these nutrients are plentiful in the American diet.
After the re-hydration period we’ll collect all of the urine they excrete and have a look at who’s retained the most amount of fluid,” says Cathryn. Steve and Michael were put on the bikes, doing a medium-intensity workout as befits men of their age. Meanwhile the young blokes, Vaughan and Gerard, were on the treadmill doing a high-intensity workout. Vaughn and Michael replaced what they sweated out with water while Gerard and Steve chugged back sports drinks to make good their liquid losses. After exercising for 40 minutes, Michael and Steve continue for another 10 because they’re only doing moderate exercise, even though the sweat is dripping off them. Sports dietitian Lisa Sutherland took all the men’s pre- and post-workout weights and calculated that they all sweated out two percent of their body weight. “It’s a great idea to weigh yourself before and after exercise because the weight you lose is the equivalent to the amount of fluid in litres that you lose.
While the movie may pose light of the situation, for many this question holds vital, real world importance. For instance, some athletes do not consume sports drinks in order to avoid excess calories. On the other hand, some may focus more on consuming a sports drink with the belief that it better hydrates them for activity. So before you go ahead and tell your friends that one type of liquid is better for them over another, consider the facts behind each and base your decision on something more scientific than an Adam Sandler quote. Facts Behind Sports Drinks: Sports drinks contain carbohydrates. This macromolecule is vital to athletes that need to replenish their glycogen stores. In simpler terms, carbohydrates aid in endurance and strength during athletic activities. So in case performing well and feeling good isn’t appealing to you, it would be wise to consider a sports drink. Just to be cautious, make sure that your drink consists of no more than 8% carbs.
