Sports drinks are sometimes mistaken for energy drinks, but they are completely different.. Sports drinks are meant for athletes who are working out, exercising or practicing intensely. Energy drinks are only meant to supply you energy and are primarily composed of stimulants such as caffeine and guarana. Even though sports drinks do not contain these types of stimulants, you must still be cautious of the amount that you consume.
Sports Drink Contents
Sports drinks contain water, sugar, sodium, carbohydrates, electrolytes and sometimes caffeine. The carbohydrates found in sports drinks are useful to athletes because they can help prevent low blood sugar, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The electrolytes in sports drinks are especially useful to those who've had a fever, vomiting, diarrhea or have lost a lot of water in other manners such as sweat. Sports drinks can also help replace salt that you may have lost during your workout or sports activities because of the sodium they contain.
Significance
While sports drinks can help replace lost sodium, electrolytes and provide carbohydrates, which give you energy, it's still important to read labels and use caution as to how much you consume. The amount of sugar that a sports drink contains is very important. Too much sugar can lead to dehydration, according to Drugs.com. If your sports drink contains a large amount of sugar or you happen to drink more than the recommended serving size and consume too much sugar that way, you could be setting yourself up for dehydration. Caffeine can lead to dehydration so check the amount in your sports drink.
Serving Size
Small amounts of sugar or caffeine are not going to cause you to become dehydrated, as long as you consume them with moderation and make sure that you're drinking enough water. Serving size is important because your sports drink bottle may contain more than one serving. This means you could misinterpret how much sugar or caffeine is really in your drink. If you don't read the label carefully, you might think your sports drink only contains 20 g of sugar but in reality it may contain 60 g of sugar.
Considerations
If you're working out longer than one hour, a sports drink can help replace lost electrolytes and give you carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up. Even though sports drinks contain water and other nutrients that are useful to your body, it's still important to eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and to ensure you have the energy your body needs to play sports, exercise or work hard.
References
- FamilyDoctor.org: Hydration: Why It's So Important; FamilyDoctor.org Editorial Staff; June 2011
- TeensHealth: A Guide to Eating for Sports; Nov. 2008
- MayoClinic.com: Dehydration: Prevention; Mayo Clinic Staff; Jan. 2011
- Drugs.com: Managing Diabetes During Sick Days--Care Guide; July 2011
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Constipation; July 2007
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