Last weekend, we were cleaning out our boat. Finally, we were going to get it in the water (long story). Tucked in the corner was a half empty bottle of Gatorade from last summer’s tubing adventures. It looked just like it looked when one of my kids were drinking it. Same color orange, no mold. It got me thinking…do I really want my kids drinking this stuff?
Check out the label – 29 g of sugar and plenty of preservatives. The expiration date was February 3, 2015. It was like finding a perfectly preserved McDonald’s hamburger months later. Yuk!
Sport drinks are meant to replenish not only fluid, but also our electrolytes. Electrolytes are lost through your sweat. When you sweat excessively, your electrolyte levels can become too low possibly causing nausea, cramps, and dizziness. Regularly drinking sports drinks means you are ingesting a lot of sugar and preservatives.
So, what shou
ld we drink after a hard workout or an afternoon of working and sweating in the yard?
If your workout is relatively short, water is your best bet. You need between 1.5 – 4 cups of water for each hour depending on your size and
the intensity of your activity.
If you are working out longer and with intensity, you need to replace both fluids and electrolytes. Look for a sports drink with a carbohydrate content of less than 8% made with more than one type of sugar. The lower amounts of sugar help with adsorption. Some other alternatives to consider: coconut water or low fat milk.
What do you like to drink after a tough workout? Comment below. I am curious.
P.S. Beachbody is also releasing a new Performance product line in late July. Stay tuned for more details.
Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/541214-advantages-disadvantages-of-sports-drinks/