Gatorade has its place in an exercise program. However, it is not meant for everyone. Drinks like Gatorade and other sports drinks are full of electrolytes. These electrolytes, specifically sodium and potassium, are what we loose when we sweat. So, it makes sense that during long, high intensity, and hot workouts we loose a lot of these important electrolytes. Gatorade is amazing at replenishing those sources.
The problem comes in when you don't work hard enough and still consume a sports drink such as Gatorade. If you are in the middle of Texas running a triathlon, Gatorade is going to be beneficial. If you are completing the Boston Marathon and its 90 degrees out, a sports drink is going to be beneficial. However, how many people do that on a daily basis? Yet, companies such as Gatorade and Powerade are making thousands and even millions of dollars a day on the sales of these sports drinks.
The bottom line is, unless you are working at a HIGH intensity for a LONG period of time, sports drinks are not necessary. You simply do not loose that many electrolytes. For what you do loose, they can simply be replaced with good post workout nutrition. For the average person and most gym goers, water is the best option for rehydration. Drinking Gatorade when not loosing all those electrolytes is just like putting a candy bar in your mouth. It is pure sugar and will be stored as fat.
So, don't listen to the commercials and spend your whole paycheck on these fancy sports drinks. If you are running a marathon or about to go bike cross-country, yeah you can have a sports drink during that time. Every other time stick with good ol' H20.
Do you have questions or ideas for future topics? Please send me an e-mail.
Best,
Doug Spurling
dspurling@une.edu
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment