We all know that we need to stay hydrated, especially when taking part in sports, but which drink is better? Are sports drinks the be all and end all for sportsmen and women, or is drinking juice better? Should one drink only water, or are carbonated drinks just as good?
The debate continues, as the body loses much of its 70% water through sweating when we exercise. One must remember that fluid replacement is crucial in order to maintain the body’s health. According to studies by the American College of Sports Medicine, humans lose between 2% – 6% of their body-weight during exercise.
Which drink is better when doing sports?
While it is still widely believed that water is the correct fluid to be drinking both before and after exercising, especially in hot weather, there are other drinks that also do the same job, some maybe a bit better.
There are various reasons why certain drinks may be better for you than others when exercising:
Water
Water is generally widely available and does not cost anything, unless you drink bottled spring water. Either tap water or bottled water is good, and will hydrate much better than any other liquid. If you want really fresh, refreshing, cool water that tastes like the nectar of the God’s, then you might try bottled spring water or spring water from a water cooler.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol such as an ice cold beer may taste great after a particularly gruelling sports match, and it is very social too, but never a good idea! Alcohol dehydrates your body, so drinking it after exercise to recoup lost fluids is like fighting for peace!
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are good to drink mainly for one reason, and that is that they taste good so you are more likely to drink more, which would lead to good hydration. Most sports drinks also contain electrolytes and carbohydrates, which are essential for those who exercise for period of an hour or more.
Carbonated Soft Drinks
Carbonated drinks are never really good for the body at any time, and after exercise is no exception. If you really feel like a carbonated drink though, you may drink more because you like the taste of it. This will help towards getting rehydrated, as long as you stay away from those containing high sugar or caffeine content.
Juice
While drinking juice is very healthy, it is not the ideal drink after exercise as the fructose reduces the rate of water absorption in the cells, delaying rehydration. If you prefer the taste of juice, it is not all bad as it does contain carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes, which the body needs, but try diluting it with a bit of water to hasten the rehydration.
Avoid drinking tea or coffee directly after exercising, as they will both sabotage your rehydration because they act as diuretics, which means that they cause your body to pull more water out of your bloodstream.
Plain spring water supplied by means of a Living-Water water cooler is the optimal source of hydration, call us today for a free quotation.
Rent water coolers or buy water cooler online in London. Get water cooler accessories and natural spring water from Living-Water Ltd.
Source:
