What Are The Benefits Of Sports Drink During Exercise?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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People use sports drinks

to replace water (rehydrate) and electrolytes lost through sweating after activity

. Electrolytes are minerals, such as potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium, that keep the body’s balance of fluids at the proper level. You lose water and electrolytes when you sweat.

Are sports drinks good for your body?

Sports drinks can

help replace what we lose during longer duration exercise

, especially in the heat. Electrolytes are minerals that maintain your body’s ionic balance. This balance is essential for nerve, muscle, and brain functioning. An imbalance may lead to an electrolyte disorder.

What are the benefits of energy drinks?

Summary: Multiple studies have shown energy drinks can

reduce mental fatigue and improve measures of brain function

, such as memory, concentration and reaction time.

What’s best to eat after workout?

  • Yogurt and fruit.
  • Peanut butter sandwich.
  • Low-fat chocolate milk and pretzels.
  • Post-workout recovery smoothie.
  • Turkey on whole-grain bread with vegetables.

Should I drink sports drinks when I exercise?

The recommendation is adults and children should only have sports drinks during extended and heavy exercise that lasts longer than an hour. “

Water, water and water

should be the beverage of choice for hydration before, during and after physical activity or exercise routines lasting less than one hour,” Dr. Nish says.

Why sports drinks are bad?

Sports drinks contain carbohydrates, which is a quick source of energy when your body is depleted of stored and usable energy. Although they do contain electrolytes like sodium and potassium which are lost through sweat, they’re often

high in sugar and calories

, which could lead to weight gain.

Are sports drinks better than water?

Research has shown that the flavor of sports

drinks causes athletes to drink more than if they were consuming water alone

( 22 , 23 ). As a result, drinks that taste better may be beneficial for increasing fluid consumption in those possibly at risk of dehydration.

Is Powerade better than water?

If you’re participating in high-intensity workouts lasting more than 45 minutes to an hour,

sports drinks

may help replenish your body’s electrolyte stores better than water.

What do athletes drink?

Sports drinks like

Gatorade, Powerade

, and All Sport can give you a needed energy boost during your activity. They are designed to rapidly replace fluids and to increase the sugar (glucose) circulating in your blood.

What happens if you drink energy drinks everyday?

Particularly in younger people, excessive energy drink intake has been linked to

abnormal heart rhythm

, heart attack, and — in some rare cases — death ( 1 , 12 , 13 ). Energy drinks are also high in sugar, which is associated with obesity, dental problems, and type 2 diabetes.

Is one energy drink a day OK?

According to experts, healthy adults should limit their energy drink intake to

roughly one can per day

because they are loaded with synthetic caffeine, sugar, and other unnecessary ingredients that can do more harm than good.

What are the side effects of too much energy drinks?

  • Large amounts of caffeine may cause serious heart and blood vessel problems such as heart rhythm disturbances and increases in heart rate and blood pressure. …
  • Caffeine use may also be associated with anxiety, sleep problems, digestive problems, and dehydration.

Is it OK to workout on an empty stomach?


Working out on an empty stomach won’t hurt you

—and it may actually help, depending on your goal. … But first, the downsides. Exercising before eating comes with the risk of “bonking”—the actual sports term for feeling lethargic or light-headed due to low blood sugar.

What not to eat after a workout?

  • Sugary post-workout shakes. …
  • Processed energy bars. …
  • Low-carb meals. …
  • Sports drinks. …
  • Salty processed foods. …
  • Fried foods. …
  • Caffeine. …
  • Eating nothing.

What happens if you don’t eat after a workout?

Sweating during exercise means you lose water as well as electrolytes, and if you don’t replenish these you will start to

feel dehydrated

, which can leave you feeling tired and faint. And failing to eat after exercise can also impact your mood, it turns out.

Is Gatorade bad for your kidneys?

When the body has excess sodium that the kidneys must absorb and process, the body expels calcium. This calcium, in turn, leads to kidney stones and damages the kidneys. Drinking excess sports drinks like Gatorade increases the likelihood of this happening.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.