Blog Post: Sports Drinks Are Not as Healthy as You May Think

It is common these days to see your favorite sports star on TV talking about their "recommended" sports drink or opening up a magazine and seeing an ad talking about how important hydration is and seeing the coaches get "Gatorade" dumped all over them after winning a game. Sports drinks have become a part of our dietary intake, but we should take note and ask ourselves how healthy are these drinks?

Generally sports drinks are made up of artificial sweeteners, sugars and flavors. Sports drinks are purposefully loaded with sodium to give a person a sense of feeling thirsty, making them drink more then they otherwise would. The sodium combined with a much more flavorful drink than water makes a person want to drink more fluids keeping them better hydrated.

Staying hydrated is extremely important, especially if you are going to start or already are in an exercise program; however, sports drinks add calories and sugar to your daily intake. These sports drinks have more calories then water and they will make you want to drink more of it. If a person isn't careful they can start consuming way more calories than they may think. Not only is someone adding unwanted calories to their diet, but they are also putting artificial chemicals in their body.

Sports drinks were created for extreme athletes who are exercising for over an hour in duration, usually this exercise consists of high levels of intensity. If you are a "casual" exerciser (meaning you are working out 2 to 3 times for an hour or so), you do not need sports drinks. Save yourself the added calories and chemicals and just drink plenty of water.

Avoiding synthetic chemicals in your overall diet is always the best choice, no matter if you are an elite athlete or casual exerciser. We encounter enough chemicals in our everyday lives; why purposely add more? By trying to minimize your chemical exposure when you have control over it will help your body become cleaner, healthier and more fit.

If you are an exercise fanatic seeking a natural source of added electrolytes, I personally recommend coconut water. This has been my drink of choice if I have back to back classes or getting an afternoon workout in and I am feeling a bit sluggish. Coconut water is full of the electrolytes that you are seeking and has nutrient value or what I like to call "substance".

Water is the most important nutrient for life and has many important functions, including regulating temperature, lubricating joints and transporting nutrients and waste throughout the body. Work on increasing your water intake. It will do wonders as well as save yourself the money and added calories.

Jessica Unbewust
co-owner
ferrum fitness