You can't watch a sporting event without seeing ads for sports drinks, such as Gatorade and Powerade, designed to instill in you the belief that to be a true athlete, you must consume their products. And clearly, the ads work--Gatorade sales top $1 billion yearly, according to the Wall Street Journal. But many athletes and "weekend warriors" who purchase the drinks have no idea what benefits the drinks actually provide them.
What's an Electrolyte?
The word "electrolyte" has become a household term thanks to Gatorade's aggressive marketing. But what, exactly, does it mean?
Electrolytes are naturally occurring ions that regulate the body's hydration and blood pH levels. They help to govern muscle and nerve function. With severe loss of electrolytes, which can occur during strenuous physical activity, dehydration can occur and muscles can become weakened and are subject to major contractions.
Many sports drinks include boosted levels of electrolytes, which help athletes avoid such issues during and after exercise. The key electrolytes in Gatorade are minerals sodium, potassium and chloride, according to Gatorade.com.
Carbohydrates
Lost in all of the electrolyte hype is the fact that sports drinks also provide much-needed carbohydrates to athletes. Rapidly absorbed carbohydrates consumed during exercise help athletes continue to perform at high levels because they help to maintain the necessary concentration of blood glucose and fuel energy levels.
According to Stan Reents, author of the book "Sport and Exercise Pharmacology," most mainstream sports drinks are composed of between 4 and 8 percent carbohydrates. The outlier, Gatorade's Performance Series, checks in at 21.7 percent, but Reents advises it only be consumed after or well before competition because of its unusually high carb content.
Are health drinks any better for athletes than water?
Such beverages are pricier than nature's original sports drink--water--and many have wondered if they'd be just as well-hydrated drinking the clear stuff.
According to a 2006 study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, there were substantial differences in terms of the physiological effects of consuming water vs. Gatorade during exercise. The study concluded that Gatorade drinkers experienced less weight loss during exertion than water drinkers, and their heart rates increased less thank water drinkers as well.
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